University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

Presented  in  Memory  of 
MERRITT  DAVID  ROBISON,  JR. 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

FROM  THE  ROBISON  COLLECTION 
GIVEN  BY  JANICE  CLARK  ROBISON 

IN  MEMORY  OF  HER  HUSBAND 
MERRITT  DAVID  ROBISON,  JR. 


THIRD  THOUSAND. 


Frost's  Pictorial  History  of  California. 


OF   THE 


STATE    OF    CALIFORNIA, 


FROM  THE  PERIOD  OF  THE  CONQUEST  BY 

SPAIN,  TO  HER  OCCUPATION  BY  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


CONTAINING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE    DISCOVERY  OF  THE  IMMENSE 
GOLD    MINES    AND    PLACERS,    THE    ENORMOUS    POPULATION 
OF   GOLD-SEEKERS,  THE    QUANTITY  OF  GOLD  ALREADY 
OBTAINED,     A    DESCRIPTION    OF    HER     MINERAL 
AND     AGRICULTURAL     RESOURCES,      WITH 
THRILLING     ACCOUNTS     OF     ADVEN 
TURES    AMONG     THE    MINERS. 

ALSO, 

ADVICE  TO  EMIGRANTS  ON  THE  BEST  ROUTES,  AND  THE 
PREPARATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  GET  THERE. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 

A  BRIEF  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  FORMATION  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT 
AND  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  SAID  STATE. 


WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


BY  JOHN  FROST,  LL.D. 


AUBURN,  N.  Y. 

DERBY  AND  MILLER. 

1851. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1850, 

BY  DERBY  AND  MILLER, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


PHIL  A  DELPHI  A.: 

HY  GS-IRHE  CHARLES. 

No.  9  Sansom  Street. 


PREFACE. 

THE  occupation  of  California  by  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  discovery  of  its 
rich  gold  mines,  form  a  new  era  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  According  to  present  appear 
ances,  these  events  forebode  a  complete  revolu 
tion  in  monetary  and  commercial  affairs.  The 
receipts  of  gold  from  California  have  already 
produced  a  sensible  effect  on  the  financial  af 
fairs  of  our  country ;  and  far-seeing  people  pre 
dict  an  entirely  new  state  of  things  with  respect 
to  the  relative  value  of  money  and  property. 

Still  more  important  effects  are  anticipated 
from  the  establishment  of  a  new,  rich,  and  en 
terprising  State  of  the  American  Union  on  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific.  Railroads  across  the  con 
tinent  will  soon  transport  the  rich  products  of 
Eastern  Asia,  by  a  quick  transit,  to  the  Atlan 
tic  cities  and  to  Europe;  and  a  passage  to 
China  or  India,  which  was  formerly  a  serious 
undertaking,  will  become  a  pleasant  excursion. 

(3) 


4  PREFACE. 

To  gratify  the  public  curiosity  with  respect 
to  the  history  and  present  state  of  this  new 
member  of  the  Union,  is  the  purpose  of  this 
volume.  In  preparing  it,  the  author  has 
passed  rapidly  over  the  early  history,  and 
dwelt  chiefly  on  recent  events,  and  the  actual 
state  of  the  country,  as  he  considered  that,  by 
this  course,  utility  would  be  more  effectually 
consulted. 

In  the  Appendix  he  has  introduced  the  con 
stitution  of  California,  and  some  official  docu 
ments,  whose  importance  demanded  their  pre 
servation  in  a  permanent  form. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 
GEOGRAPHICAL  OUTLINE  OF  CALIFORNIA 7 

CHAPTER  n. 
DISCOVERY  OF  CALIFORNIA U 

CHAPTER  IH. 

PEOM  THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  TO  THE  REVOLUTION  IN  MEXICO 20 

CHAPTER  IV. 

FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TILL  THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  MEXICO-    24 

CHAPTER  V. 
FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  WAR  TILL  ITS  CLOSE 27 

CHAPTER  VI. 
DISCOVERY  OF  THE  GOLD  PLACERS 30 

CHAPTER  VII. 

ADVENTURES  OP  SOME  OF  THB  MINERS,  AND  INCIDENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  MINING  •  •    56 

CHAPTER  VHI 

DESCRIPTION  OF  SOME  OF  THE  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BEFORE  AND  AFTER 
THE  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  GOLD  MINES »•  •  •  87 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THB  FORMATION  OF  A  STATE  GOVERNMENT 118 

CHAPTER  X. 
PRESENT  STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA - 132 

CHAPTER  XL 

THE  DIFFERENT  ROUTES  TO  CALIFORNIA,  AND  THEIR  RESPECTIVE  CHARACTERS 181 

CHAPTER  XII. 

RECENT  EVENTS  C«NNECTED  WITH,  AND  HAPPENING  IN,  CALIFORNIA 218 

CHAPTER  XIH. 

THE  MlNERALOGICAL  AND  OTHER  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  GOLD,  AND  THE  MODE  OF  DIS 
TINGUISHING  IT  WHEN  FOUND ;  TOGETHER  WITH  THE  ASSAY,  REDUCTION,  AND  RE 
FINEMENT  OF  GOLD 233 

(5) 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  XIY. 


ADDITIONAL  RECENT  ETENTS 


CHAPTER  XT. 
A  GENERAL  VIEW  OP  CALIFORNIA  AT  THE  PRESENT  TIME 255 

CHAPTER  XVL 

NATURAL  HISTOEY  OF  CALIFORNIA 27 5 

APPENDIX • • 887 


LIST  OF  EMBELLISHMENTS. 


PRINCIPAL  STREET  IN  SAN  FRANCISCO Frontispiece 

ONE  OF  THE  OLD  SPANISH  HOUSES  IN  SAN  FRANCISCO 28 

RANCHE  IN  UPPER  CALIFORNIA 47 

LITE  IN  THE  DIGGINGS — SUPPER-TIME 65 

SONORIANS  DRY-WASHING  GOLD 67 

GOLD-ROCKER,  WASHING-PAN,  AND  GOLD-BEARER 70 

GOING  TO  A  FANDANGO 79 

MODE  OF  WASHING  CLOTHES  IN  CALIFORNIA 86 

GAMBLING  SCENE  IN  SAN  FRANCISCO 93 

A  SHIP'S  GALLEY  TURNED  INTO  A  CAFE  RESTAURANT  IN  SAN  FRANCISCO 96 

SACRAMENTO  CITY 112 

SAN  JOSE,  IN  LOWER  CALIFORNIA 116 

MONTEREY 130 

TRADING-POST  IN  THE  MINES 176 

CROSSING  THE  ISTHMUS < 197 

MOUNTAIN  SCENERY  IN  LOWER  CALUORHIA • 504 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  L 

GEOGRAPHICAL  OUTLINE   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

THE  territory  called  California  is  that  part  of  North 
America  situated  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  extending 
from  the  42°  of  north  latitude  southwardly  to  22°  48', 
and  from  107°  longitude,  west  from  Greenwich,  to 
124°.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Oregon  terri 
tory,  east  by  territories  belonging  to  the  United 
States  and  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  on  the  south 
and  west  by  Mexico  and  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Califor 
nia  is  naturally  divided  into  two  portions ;  the  penin 
sula,  called  Lower  California,  and  the  territory  ex 
tending  northward  from  the  peninsula,  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  called  Upper  California.  The  line  of  division 
between  Upper  and  Lower  California  runs  nearly 
along  the  32d  parallel  of  latitude,  westward  from  the 
head  of  the  Gulf  of  California. 

The  peninsula  of  California  is  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty  miles  in  breadth,  where  it  joins  the  conti 
nent.  It  extends  south-eastwardly,  generally  dimi 
nishing  in  breadth,  till  it  terminates  in  two  points. 
The  point  farthest  south-west  is  called  Cape  San 

(7) 


8  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Lucas.  The  other,  sixty  miles  east  by  north  of  San 
Lucas,  is  called  Cape  Palmo.  The  peninsula  is  about 
seven  hundred  miles  long. 

Upper  California  extends,  upon  the  Pacific,  from 
the  32d  parallel  of  latitude,  northward  to  the  42d 
parallel,  a  distance  of  about  seven  hundred  miles.  It 
is  separated  from  Oregon  by  a  range  of  highlands, 
called  the  Snowy  Mountains,  or,  by  the  Spaniards, 
the  Sierra  Nevada.  The  eastern  limit  of  Upper  Cali 
fornia  is  rather  uncertain.  By  some  it  is  considered 
as  including  the  region  watered  by  the  Colorado  River, 
while  others  limit  it  by  the  great  mountain  range  that 
extends  along  the  western  side  of  the  continent. 

The  Californian  peninsula  seems  to  be  a  prolonga 
tion  of  the  great  western  chain  of  mountains.  It 
consists  entirely  of  high,  stony  ridges,  separated  by 
sandy  valleys,  and  contains  very  few  tracts  of  level 
ground.  In  a  general  view,  it  might  be  termed  an 
irreclaimable  desert.  The  scarcity  of  rain  and  the 
small  number  of  springs  of  water,  with  the  intense 
heat  of  the  sun's  rays,  uninterrupted  in  their  passage, 
render  the  surface  of  the  country  almost  destitute  of 
vegetation.  Yet  in  the  small  oases  formed  by  the 
passage  of  a  rivulet  through  a  sandy  defile,  where 
irrigation  is  possible,  the  ground  may  be  made  to  pro 
duce  all  the  fruits  of  tropical  climes,  of  the  finest 
quality,  and  in  great  quantity.  The  southern  portion 
of  the  peninsula  contains  several  gold  mines,  which 
have  been  worked,  though  not  to  any  great  extent. 
On  the  Pacific  side,  the  coast  offers  many  excellent 
harbors,  but  the  lack  of  fresh  water  near  them  proves 
an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  their  occupation.  The 
principal  harbors  are  the  Bay  of  la  Magdalena, 
separated  from  the  ocean  by  the  long  island  of  Santa 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  9 

Margarita,  the  Bay  of  Sebastian  Vizcaino,  east  of  the 
Isle  of  Cedaro,  Port  San  Bartolomd,  sometimes  called 
Turtle  Bay,  and  Port  San  Quintin,  a  good  harbor, 
with  fresh  water  in  the  vicinity,  and  called  by  the 
Spanish  navigators  the  Port  of  the  Eleven  Thousand 
Virgins. 

The  great  westernmost  range  of  mountains  runs 
northward  from  the  peninsula,  nearly  parallel  with 
the  Pacific  coast,  to  the  34th  parallel  of  latitude,  be 
low  which  is  Mount  San  Bernardin,  one  of  the  highest 
peaks  in  California,  about  forty  miles  from  the  ocean. 
Farther  northward,  the  space  between  the  mountains 
and  the  coast  becomes  wider,  and,  in  a  few  places, 
reaches  eighty  miles.  The  intermediate  region  is  tra 
versed  by  lines  of  hills,  or  smaller  mountains  joined 
with  the  great  range.  The  most  considerable  of  the 
inferior  ridges  extends  from  Mount  San  Bernardin 
to  the  south  side  of  the  entrance  of  the  Bay  of  San 
Francisco,  where  it  is  called  the  San  Bruno  Moun 
tains.  Between  this  range  and  the  coast  runs  the 
Santa  Barbara  range,  terminating  at  the  Cape  of 
Pines,  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  Bay  of  Monterey. 
Bordering  on  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  on  the  east 
side,  is  the  Bolbona  ridge.  Beyond  these  are  lines  of 
highlands  which  stretch  from  the  great  chain  and  ter 
minate  in  capes  on  the  Pacific. 

There  are  many  streams  among  the  valleys  of 
Upper  California,  some  of  which,  in  the  rainy  season, 
swell  to  a  considerable  size.  But  no  river,  except  the 
Sacramento,  falling  into  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  is 
known  to  flow  through  the  maritime  range  of  moun 
tains,  from  the  interior  to  the  Pacific.  The  valleys 
thus  watered  offer  abundant  pasturage  for  cattle. 

The  principal  harbors  of  Upper  California  are  those 


10  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

offered  by  the  Bays  of  San  Francisco,  Monterey, 
San  Pedro,  Santa  Barbara,  and  San  Diego.  The 
Bay  of  San  Francisco  is  one  of  the  finest  harbors  in 
the  world.  The  combined  fleets  of  all  the  naval 
powers  of  Europe  might  there  find  safe  shelter.  It 
is  surrounded  by  ranges  of  high  hills,  and  joins  the 
Pacific  by  a  passage  two  miles  wide  and  three  in 
length.  The  other  harbors  can  only  be  frequented  in 
the  fine  season,  and  afford  a  very  insecure  shelter  for 
vessels.  San  Diego  is  the  farthest  south.  The  bay 
at  that  place  runs  ten  miles  eastward  into  the  land, 
and  is  separated  from  the  ocean  by  a  ridge  of  sand. 
Proceeding  northward,  about  seventy  miles,  the  Bay 
of  San  Pedro  is  next  met.  It  is  open  to  the  south 
west  winds,  but  sheltered  from  the  north-west.  About 
a  hundred  miles  north-west  of  San  Pedro,  is  the  har 
bor  of  Santa  Barbara.  It  is  an  open  roadstead  shel 
tered  from  the  north  and  west  winds,  but  exposed  to 
the  violence  of  the  south-westerly  storms,  which  pre 
vail  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  A  hundred 
miles  farther  north  is  the  Bay  of  Monterey.  It  is 
extensive,  and  lies  in  an  indentation  of  the  coast, 
somewhat  semicircular.  The  southernmost  portion  is 
separated  from  the  ocean  by  the  point  of  land  ending 
at  the  Cape  of  Pines.  In  the  cove  thus  formed, 
stands  the  town  of  Monterey,  for  some  time  the  capi 
tal  of  California.  The  harbor  affords  but  a  poor  shel 
ter  from  storms. 

The  Sacramento  and  San  Joachim  are  the  princi 
pal  rivers  of  California,  but  the  Sacramento  alone  is 
navigable  to  any  extent  worthy  of  mention.  There 
are  numerous  small  streams  and  lakes  in  the  interior, 
the  principal  outlet  of  which  is  the  Colorado  River. 
The  valleys  through  which  these  streams  flow  are 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  11 

fertile,  and  afford  good  pasture  for  cattle;  but  the 
remainder  of  the  region  between  the  maritime  and 
the  Colorado  ranges  of  mountains  is  a  barren  waste 
of  sand. 


CHAPTER  II. 

DISCOVERY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

THE  first  exploration  of  the  Pacific  coasts  of  North 
America  was  made  by  the  Spaniards,  in  the  sixteenth 
century.  After  Hernando  Cortes  had  completed  the 
conquest  of  Mexico,  he  commenced  exploring  the  ad 
joining  seas  and  countries ;  no  doubt,  with  the  hope 
of  discovering  lands  richer  than  those  which  he  had 
conquered,  and  which  would  afford  new  fields  for  the 
exercise  of  his  daring  enterprise  and  undaunted  per 
severance.  He  employed  vessels  in  surveying  the 
coasts  of  the  Mexican  Gulf,  and  of  the  Atlantic  more 
northerly.  Vessels  were  built  upon  the  Pacific  coast 
for  like  purposes,  two  of  which  as  early  as  1526, 
were  sent  to  the  East  Indies. 

The  first  expedition  of  the  Spaniards,  sent  along 
the  western  coast  of  Mexico,  was  conducted  by  Pedro 
Nunez  de  Maldonado,  an  officer  under  Cortes.  He 
sailed  from  the  mouth  of  the  Zacatula  River,  in  July, 
1528,  and  was  six  months  engaged  in  surveying  the 
shores  from  his  starting-place  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Santiago  River,  a  hundred  leagues  farther  north-west. 
The  territory  he  visited  was  then  called  Xalisco,  and 
inhabited  by  fierce  tribes  of  men  who  had  never  been 


12  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

conquered  by  the  Mexicans.  Flattering  accounts  of 
the  fertility  of  the  country  and  of  the  abundance  of 
the  precious  metals  in  it  were  brought  back  by  the  ex 
pedition,  and  these  served  to  excite  the  attention  of 
the  Spaniards.  "When  the  expedition  returned  Cortes 
was  in  Spain,  whither  he  had  gone  to  have  his  title 
and  powers  more  clearly  defined.  He  returned  in 
1580  with  full  power  to  make  discoveries  and  con 
quests  upon  the  western  coast  of  Mexico.  From  the 
opposition  of  his  enemies,  he  was  prevented  from  fit 
ting  out  an  expedition  before  1532.  The  most  north 
ern  post  upon  the  Pacific  coast,  occupied  by  the 
Spaniards,  was  Aguatlan,  beyond  which  the  coast  was 
little  known. 

The  expedition  sent  by  Cortes  to  the  north-western 
coast  of  Mexico  was  commanded  by  his  kinsman,  Diego 
Hurtado  de  Mendoza.  It  sailed  from  Tehuantepec 
in  July,  1532,  and  consisted  of  two  vessels.;  one  com 
manded  by  Diego  Hurtado  de  Mendoza  in  person,  and 
the  other  by  Juan  de  Mazuela.  Mendoza  proceeded 
slowly  along  the  shore  of  the  continent  as  far  as  the 
27°  of  latitude,  where,  his  crew  being  mutinous,  he 
sent  back  one  of  his  vessels  with  the  greater  part  of 
his  men,  and  continued  the  voyage  with  the  remaining 
vessel.  Vague  reports  were  afterwards  received  that 
Mendoza's  vessel  was  thrown  ashore  somewhere  to  the 
northward,  and  that  all  on  board  had  perished.  The 
vessel  which  was  sent  back,  was  stranded  near  the 
mouth  of  the  River  Vanderas,  and  after  the  murder 
of  the  greater  part  of  the  crew,  she  was  plundered 
by  Nuno  de  Guzman,  Governor  of  Xalisco.  About 
the  middle  of  the  next  year,  Cortes  received  the  news 
of  the  return  of  the  vessel  which  Mendoza  had  sent 
back,  and  he  immediately  despatched  two  ships  under 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


13 


the  command  of  Hernando  Grijalva  and  Diego  Be- 
cerra,  in  search  of  the  other.  These  ships  sailed  on 
the  30th  of  September,  1533,  but  were  soon  sepa 
rated.  Grijalva  discovered  the  islands  of  St.  Thomas, 
as  he  called  them — a  group  of  islands  about  fifty 
leagues  from  the  coast.  He  remained  there  till  the 
following  spring,  and  then  returned  home.  Becerra 
proceeded  north-westward ;  but  his  crew  mutinied, 
and  he  was  murdered  by  Fortuno  Ximenes.  The 
mutineers,  under  Ximenes,  then  steered  directly  west 
from  the  main  land,  and  soon  reached  a  coast  not 
known  to  them  before.  They  landed,  and  soon  after 
Ximenes  and  nineteen  men  were  killed  by  the  na 
tives.  The  rest  of  the  men  carried  the  vessel  over 
to  Xalisco,  where  she  was  seize4  by  Nuno  de  Guz 
man. 

Soon  after  these  unlucky  expeditions,  Nuno  de 
Guzman  sent  out  several  exploring  parties  in  a  north 
erly  direction,  one  of  which  traced  the  western  shore 
as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado,  and  brought  back 
accounts  of  a  rich  and  populous  country  and  splendid 
cities  in  the  interior.  When  Cortes  became  acquainted 
with  the  seizure  of  his  vessels,  a  dispute  arose  be 
tween  him  and  Nuno  de  Guzman,  which  almost  led  to 
a  battle  between  their  forces.  But  no  action  oc 
curred,  and  Cortes,  having  heard  of  the  newly  disco 
vered  country,  which  was  said  to  abound  in  the  finest 
pearls,  embarked  at  Chiametla,  with  a  portion  of  his 
men,  and  set  sail  for  the  new  land  of  promise.  On 
the  3d  of  May,  1535,  the  day  of  the  Invention  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  according  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Calen 
dar,  Cortes  arrived  in  the  bay  where  Ximenes  and 
his  fellow-mutineers  had  met  their  fate  in  the  previous 
year.  In  honor  of  the  day,  the  place  was  called 

2 


14  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Santa  Cruz,  and  possession  of  it  was  taken  in  the 
name  of  the  Spanish  sovereign. 

The  country  claimed  by  Cortes  for  Spain,  was  the 
south-east  portion  of  the  peninsula,  which  was  after 
wards  called  California.  The  bay,  called  by  Cortes, 
Santa  Cruz,  was,  perhaps,  the  same  now  known  as 
Port  La  Paz,  about  a  hundred  miles  from  the  Pacific, 
near  the  24th  parallel  of  latitude.  Cortes  landed  on 
the  shore  of  this  bay,  rocky  and  forbidding  as  it  ap 
peared,  with  a  hundred  and  thirty  men,  and  forty 
horses.  He  then  sent  back  two  of  his  ships  to  Chia- 
metla,  to  bring  over  the  rest  of  his  troops.  The  ves 
sels  soon  returned  with  a  portion  of  the  troops,  and 
being  again  despatched  to  the  Mexican  coast,  only 
one  of  them  returned.  The  other  was  wrecked  on  her 
way.  Cortes  then  took  seventy  men  and  embarked 
for  Xalisco,  from  which  he  returned  just  in  time  to 
save  his  troops  from  death  by  famine.  A  year  was 
spent  in  these  operations,  and  the  troops  began  to 
grow  discontented.  A  few  pearls  had  been  found  on 
the  coast,  but  the  country  was  found  to  be  barren, 
and  without  attractions  for  Spaniards. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  wife  of  Cortes  hearing  reports 
of  his  ill  success,  sent  a  vessel  to  Santa  Cruz,  and  en 
treated  him  to  return.  He  then  learned  that  he  had 
been  superseded  in  the  government  of  New  Spain  by 
Don  Antonio  de  Mendoza,  who  had  already  entered  the 
capital  as  viceroy.  Cortes  returned  to  Mexico,  and 
soon  after,  recalled  the  vessels  and  troops  from  Santa 
Cruz. 

The  viceroy,  Mendoza,  had  received  some  informa 
tion  concerning  the  country  north-west  of  Mexico, 
from  de  Cabeza-Vaca  and  two  other  Spaniards,  who 
had  wandered  nine  years,  through  forests  and  deserts, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  15 

from  Tampa  Bay,  Florida,  until  they  reached  Culia- 
can.  They  had  received  from  the  natives,  accounts 
of  rich  and  populous  countries  situated  to  the  north 
west.  Mendoza,  wishing  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the 
reports,  sent  two  friars,  according  to  the  advice  of 
Las  Casas,  to  make  an  exploration.  They  were  ac 
companied  by  a  Moor  who  had  crossed  the  continent 
with  Caheza-Vaca  and  his  friends,  and  they  set  out 
from  Culiacan  on  the  7th  of  March,  1539. 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  friars,  Cortes  sent 
out  his  last  expedition.  It  was  commanded  by  Fran 
cisco  de  Ulloa,  and  consisted  of  three  vessels,  well 
equipped.  Sailing  from  Acapulco,  on  the  8th  of  July 
1539.  Ulloa  reached  the  Bay  of  Santa  Cruz,  after 
losing  one  of  his  vessels  in  a  storm.  From  Santa 
Cruz  he  started  to  survey  the  coast  towards  the  north 
west.  He  completely  examined  both  shores  of  the 
Gulf  of  California,  and  discovered  the  fact  of  the 
connection  of  the  peninsula  with  the  main  land,  near 
the  32°  of  latitude.  This  gulf  Ulloa  named  the  Sea 
of  Cortes.  On  the  18th  of  October,  he  returned  to 
Santa  Cruz,  and  on  the  29th  again  sailed  with  the 
object  of  exploring  the  coasts  farther  west.  He 
rounded  the  point  now  called  Cape  San  Lucas,  the 
southern  extremity  of  California,  and  sailed  along  the 
coast  towards  the  north.  The  Spaniards  proceeded 
slowly,  as  they  were  opposed  by  north-western  storms, 
and  often  landed  and  fought  with  the  natives.  In 
January,  1540,  Ulloa  reached  the  island  under  the 
28th  parallel  of  latitude,  near  the  coast,  which  they 
named  the  Isle  of  Cedars.  There  he  remained  till 
April,  when  one  of  the  ships,  bearing  the  sick  and 
accounts  of  the  discoveries,  was  sent  back  to  Mexico. 
The  returning  vessel  was  seized  at  Santiago  by  the 


16  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

officers  of  the  viceroy.  The  fate  of  the  remaining 
vessel  is  uncertain.  Some  of  the  writers  of  that  day 
asserting  that  he  continued  his  voyage  as  far  north  as 
the  30°  of  latitude,  and  returned  safely  to  Mexico; 
while  one  asserts  that  nothing  more  was  heard  of  him 
after  the  return  of  the  vessel  he  sent  hack. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  two  friars  and  the  Moor 
penetrated  a  considerable  distance  into  the  interior  of 
the  continent,  and  sent  home  glowing  accounts  of  rich 
and  delightful  countries  which  they  said  they  had  dis 
covered.  The  inhabitants  had,  at  first,  been  hostile, 
and  had  killed  the  Moor ;  but  in  the  end  submitted  to 
the  authority  of  the  King  of  Spain.  Mendoza,  be 
lieving  the  accounts  of  the  friars  to  be  strictly  true, 
prepared  an  expedition  for  the  conquest  of  the  coun 
tries  they  described.  Disputes  with  the  different 
Spanish  chieftains  occupied  some  months,  at  the  end 
of  which  Cortes  returned  to  Spain,  in  disgust.  Men 
doza  despatched  two  bodies  of  troops,  one  by  land, 
the  other  by  sea,  to  reconnoitre  the  newly  discovered 
land,  and  clear  the  way  for  conquest.  The  marine 
expedition  was  undertaken  by  two  ships,  under  the 
command  of  Fernando  de  Alarcon,  who  sailed  from 
Santiago  on  the  9th  of  May,  1540,  and  proceeding 
north-west  along  the  coast,  he  reached  the  head  of  the 
California  Gulf,  in  August  of  the  same  year.  There 
he  discovered  the  river  now  called  the  Colorado. 
The  stream  was  ascended  to  the  distance  of  eighty 
leagues,  by  Alarcon  and  some  of  his  men,  in  boats  ; 
but  all  their  inquiries  were  unsatisfactorily  answered, 
and  it  was  determined  to  return  to  Mexico.  The  ves 
sels  returned  safely  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  land  forces  sent,  at  the  same  time,  to  the  north 
west,  were  composed  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  and 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


17 


commanded  by  Francisco  Vasquez  de  Coronado,  who 
had  been  appointed  governor  of  New  Gallicia,  in  place 
of  Nuno  de  Guzman.  The  party  left  Culiacan  on  the 
22d  of  April,  1540,  and  took  their  way  north,  follow 
ing  the  course  described  by  the  friars.  They  found 
the  route  which  had  been  represented  as  easy,  almost 
impassable.  They  made  their  way  over  mountains, 
and  deserts,  and  rivers,  and,  in  July,  they  reached  the 
country  called  Cibola  by  the  natives,  but  found  it  a 
half  cultivated  region,  thinly  inhabited  by  a  people 
destitute  of  the  wealth  and  civilization  they  had  been 
represented  as  possessing.  What  had  been  represented 
as  seven  great  cities,  were  seven  small  towns,  rudely 
built.  A  few  Aurquoises  and  some  gold  and  silver 
supposed  to  be  good,  constituted  the  amount  of  what 
had  been  termed  immense  quantities  of  jewels,  gold 
and  silver.  The  Spaniards  took  possession  of  the 
country  and  wanted  to  remain  and  settle  there.  But 
Vasquez  refused  to  acquiesce  ;  and  after  naming  one 
of  the  towns  he  visited,  Granada,  he  started  for  the 
north-west,  in  search  of  other  countries.  The  region 
called  Cibola  by  the  inhabitants,  which  Vasquez 
visited,  is  the  territory  now  called  Sonora,  and  is 
situated  about  the  head  waters  of  the  Rivers  Yaqui 
and  Gila,  east  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  Gulf  of 
California.  The  movements  of  the  Spaniards  after 
leaving  Cibola,  in  August,  1540,  have  been  the  subject 
of  very  vague  and  contradictory  accounts.  All  that 
is  certain  is,  that  the  greater  part  of  the  force  soon 
returned  to  Mexico,  and  that  Vasquez,  with  the 
remainder,  wandered  through  the  interior  for  nearly 
two  years  longer,  when,  being  disappointed  in  his 
expectations,  he  returned  to  Mexico  in  1542. 

In  the  spring  of  1542,  two  vessels  were  placed  under 
2* 


18  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  command  of  Juan  Roderiguez  Cabrillo,  a  Portu 
guese  navigator  of  great  reputation.  The  two  vessels 
sailed  from  Navidad,  a  small  port  in  Xalisco,  in  June, 
1542.  They  rounded  Cape  San  Lucas,  and  proceeded 
north-west,  along  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  88th  degree 
of  latitude,  when  he  was  driven  back,  and  took  refuge 
in  a  harbor  of  one  of  the  San  Barbara  islands.  There 
Cabrillo  died  and  the  command  devolved  on  Barto- 
lome  Ferrelo.  Ferrelo  was  a  zealous  and  determined 
man,  and  he  resolved  to  proceed  with  the  expedition. 
He  sailed  towards  the  north,  and  on  the  26th  of 
February,  reached  a  promontory  near  the  41st  parallel 
of  latitude,  which  he  named  Stormy  Cape.  On  the 
1st  of  March,  the  ships  reached  the  44th  parallel,  but 
they  were  again  driven  south ;  and  the  men  being 
almost  worn  out,  Ferrelo  resolved  to  go  back  to  Mexico. 
He  arrived  at  Navidad  on  the  14th  of  April,  1543. 
The  promontory  called  Stormy  Cape  by  Ferrelo,  was 
the  most  northern  portion  of  California  visited  by  that 
navigator,  and  it  is  probably  the  same  which  is  now 
called  Cape  Mendocino. 

From  all  accounts  that  they  had  been  able  to  collect, 
the  Spaniards  concluded  that  neither  rich  and  popu 
lous  countries  existed  beneath  the  40th  parallel  of 
latitude,  nor  was  there  any  navigable  passage  between 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  to  be  found  in  the 
same  region.  They,  therefore,  ceased  to  exp!6re  the 
north-western  territory  for  some  time  after  the  return 
of  Ferrelo  in  1543. 

Having  thus  given  a  somewhat  detailed  account  of 
the  discovery  and  explorations  of  the  territory  now 
called  California,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  merely  mention 
the  various  expeditions  that  visited  it  prior  to  the  first 
regular  settlement.  In  the  spring  of  1579,  California 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


19 


was  visited  by  Sir  Francis  Drake,  the  English  naviga 
tor,  who  landed  on  the  shores  of  a  bay  supposed  to  be 
that  of  San  Francisco.  He  formally  took  possession 
of  the  country  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and 
called  it  New  Albion.  He  left  California  on  the  22d 
of  July,  1579.  In  the  spring  of  1596,  Sebastian 
Viscaino,  under  orders  from  the  viceroy  of  Mexico, 
attempted  to  plant  colonies  on  the  peninsula  of  Cali 
fornia,  but  the  country  was  soon  abandoned  on  account 
of  the  barrenness  of  the  soil  and  the  ferocity  of  the 
natives,  Viscaino  visited  the  coast  of  Upper  Califor 
nia  in  1602,  and  discovered  and  named  some  of  the 
places  Cabrillo  had  discovered  and  named  long  before. 
The  Port  San  Miguel  of  Cabrillo  was  named  Port  San 
Diego ;  Cape  Galera  was  named  Cape  Conception, 
the  name  now  borne  by  it ;  the  Port  of  Pines  was 
named  Port  Monterey.  This  was  the  last  expedition 
made  by  the  Spaniards  along  the  coast  of  California 
for  more  than  a  hundred  and  sixty  years. 

Various  attempts  were  made  to  establish  colonies, 
garrisons,  and  fishing  or  trading  ports,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  peninsula  of  California,  during  the  seven 
teenth  century,  but  all  failed,  either  from  the  want  of 
funds,  the  sterility  of  the  country,  or  the  hostility  of 
the  natives.  The  pearl  fishery  in  the  gulf  was  the 
principal  bait  that  attracted  the  Spaniards,  and  they 
succeeded  in  obtaining  a  considerable  quantity,  some 
of  which  were  very  valuable. 


20  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER   III. 

FROM   THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENT    TO   THE    REVOLUTION 

IN   MEXICO. 

THE  first  establishment  of  the  Spaniards  in  Califor 
nia,  was  made  by  the  Jesuits,  in  November,  1607. 
The  settlement  was  called  Loreto,  and  founded  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  peninsula,  about  two  hundred 
miles  from  the  Pacific.  On  entering  California,  the 
Jesuits  encountered  the  same  obstacles  which  had 
before  prevented  a  settlement  of  the  country.  The 
land  was  so  sterile,  that  it  scarcely  yielded  sustenance 
to  the  most  industrious  tiller,  and  as  the  settlements 
were  all  located  near  the  sea,  fishing  was  the  resource 
of  the  settlers  to  make  up  the  deficiency  of  food.  The 
natives  continued  hostile,  and  killed  several  of  the 
Jesuit  fathers.  By  perseverance  and  kindness,  the 
Jesuits  overcame  all  the  obstacles  with  which  they  met, 
and  within  sixty  years  after  their  entrance  into  Califor 
nia,  they  had  established  sixteen  missions,  extending 
along  the  eastern  side  of  the  peninsula,  from  Cape 
San  Lucas  to  the  head  of  the  gulf.  Each  of  these 
establishments  consisted  of  a  church,  a  fort,  garrisoned 
by  a  few  soldiers,  and  some  stores  and  dwelling-houses, 
all  under  the  control  of  the  resident  Jesuit  father. 
Each  of  the  missions  formed  the  centre  of  a  district 
containing  several  villages  of  converted  Indians.  None 
of  the  Jesuits  visited  the  western  coast  of  the  peninsula 
except  on  one  occasion,  in  1716. 

Great  exertions  were  made  by  the  settlers  to  acquire 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


21 


a  knowledge  of  the  geography,  natural  history  and 
languages  of  the  peninsula,  and  they  appears  to  have 
been  generally  successful.  The  result  of  their  re 
searches  were  published  in  Madrid,  in  1757,  and  the 
work  was  entitled  a  "  History  of  California."  They 
surveyed  the  whole  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  California, 
and,  in  1709,  Father  Kuhn,  one  of  the  Jesuit  fathers, 
ascertained  beyond  doubt  the  connection  of  the  penin 
sula  with  the  continent,  which  had  been  denied  for  a 
century.  But  all  the  labors  of  the  Jesuits  were  brought 
to  an  end  in  1767.  In  that  year,  Charles  III.  of 
Spain,  issued  a  decree,  banishing  members  of  that 
order  from  the  Spanish  territories ;  and  a  strong 
military  force,  under  command  of  Don  Gasper  de 
Portola,  was  despatched  to  California,  and  soon  put 
an  end  to  the  rule  of  the  Jesuits  by  tearing  them  from 
their  converts. 

The  Spanish  government  did  not  intend  to  abandon 
California.  The  peninsula  immediately  became  a 
province  of  Mexico,  and  was  provided  with  a  civil  and 
military  government,  subordinate  to  the  viceroy  of 
that  country.  The  mission  fell  under  the  rule  of  the 
Dominicans,  and  from  their  mode  of  treatment,  most 
of  the  converts  soon  returned  to  their  former  state  of 
barbarism.  The  Spaniards  soon  formed  establishments 
on  the  western  side  of  the  peninsula.  In  the  spring 
of  1769,  a  number  of  settlers,  with  some  soldiers  and 
Franciscan  friars,  marched  through  the  peninsula  to 
wards  San  Diego.  They  reached  the  bay  of  San  Diego 
after  a  toilsome  journey,  and  the  settlement  on  the 
shore  of  the  bay  was  begun  in  the  middle  of  May, 
1769.  An  attempt  was  made,  soon  after,  to  establish 
a  colony  at  Port  Monterey ;  but  the  party  under 
Portola  that  went  in  search  of  the  place,  passed  further 


22  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

on  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  could  not  retrace 
their  steps  before  tHe  cold  weather  set  in,  and  they 
then  returned  to  San  Diego.  The  people  left  at  San 
Diego  had  been  several  times  attacked  by  the  natives, 
and  after  the  return  of  Portola's  party  they  almost 
perished  for  want  of  food.  But  a  supply  arrived  on 
the  very  day  upon  which  they  had  agreed  to  abandon 
the  place  and  return  to  Mexico.  Portola  again  set 
out  for  Monterey,  and  there  effected  a  settlement. 
Parties  of  emigrants  from  Mexico  came  to  the  western 
shore  of  California  during  the  year  1770,  and  establish 
ments  were  made  on  the  coast  between  San  Diego  and 
Monterey.  The  multiplication  of  their  cattle,  inde 
pendent  of  the  fruits  of  agricultural  labor,  before  1775, 
made  the  settlers  of  Upper  California  able  to  resist 
the  perils  to  which  their  situation  exposed  them. 

In  order  to  give  efficiency  to  the  operations  on  the 
western  coast  of  North  America,  the  Spanish  govern 
ment  selected  the  port  of  San  Bias,  in  Mexico,  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  for  the  establish 
ment  of  arsenals,  ship-yards  and  warehouses,  and 
made  it  the  centre  of  all  operations  undertaken  in  that 
quarter.  A  marine  department  was  created  for  the 
special  purpose  of  advancing  the  interests  of,  the 
Spaniards  in  the  settlement  of  the  western  shore  of 
California.  By  the  energy  displayed  in  managing 
this  department  the  Spaniards  succeeded  in  making 
eight  establishments  on  the  Pacific  coast  between  the 
California  peninsula  and  Cape  Mendocino,  before 
1779.  The  most  southern  post  was  San  Diego,  and 
the  most  northern,  San  Francisco,  on  the  great  bay 
of  the  same  name.  The  establishments  were  almost 
entirely  military  and  missionary,  the  object  of  the 
Spaniards  being  solely  the  occupation  of  the  country. 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA.  23 

The  missions  were  under  the  control  of  the  Francis 
cans,  who,  unlike  the  Jesuits,  took  little  care  to  exert 
themselves  in  procuring  information  concerning  the 
country  in  which  they  were  established. 

Various  expeditions  for  exploring  the  coast  of  Upper 
California  above  Cape  Mendocino,  were  made  by  the 
Spaniards.  One  of  these  proceeded  as  far  north  as 
the  latitude  of  41  degrees,  and  some  men  were  landed 
on  the  shores  of  a  small  bay,  just  beyond  Cape  Men 
docino,  and  gave  the  harbor  the  name  of  Port  Trinidad. 
The  small  river  which  flows  into  the  Pacific  near  the 
place  where  they  landed  was  called  Pigeon  River,  from 
the  great  number  of  those  birds  in  the  neighborhood 
of  it.  The  Indians  appeared  to  be  a  peaceable  and 
industrious  race,  and  conducted  themselves  towards 
the  Spaniards  in  the  most  inoffensive  manner.  In 
the  same  year,  1775,  Bodega,  a  Spanish  commander, 
returning  from  a  voyage  extended  as  far  north  as  tho 
58th  degree  of  latitude,  discovered  a  small  bay  which 
had  not  previously  been  described,  and  he  accordingly 
gave  it  his  own  name,  which  it  still  retains.  This  Bay 
of  Bodega  is  situated  a  little  north  of  the  38th  degree 
of  latitude. 

Few  events  worth  recording  occurred  in  California, 
during  the  whole  period  of  fifty  years,  from  the  first 
establishment  of  the  Spaniards  on  the  western  coast  till 
the  termination  of  the  Mexican  war  of  independence. 
An  attempt  of  the  Russians  to  form  a  settlement  on  the 
shores  of  the  Bay  of  Bodego,  in  1815,  was  met  with  a 
remonstrance  from  the  governor  of  California.  The 
remonstrance  of  the  governor  was  disregarded,  and 
his  commands  to  quit  the  place  disobeyed.  The  Rus 
sian  agent,  Kushof,  denied  the  right  of  the  Spaniards 
to  the  territory,  and  the  governor  being  unable  to 


24 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


enforce  his  commands,  the  intruders  kept  posses 
sion  of  the  ground  until  1840,  when  they  left  of  their 
own  accord. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

FROM  THE  REVOLUTION   TILL  THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE 
UNITED   STATES   AND    MEXICO. 

BEFORE  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  for  inde 
pendence  in  Mexico,  the  missions  in  California  were, 
to  some  extent,  fostered  by  the  Spanish  government, 
and  supplies  were  sent  to  them  regularly.  But  when 
the  war  began,  the  remittances  were  reduced,  and  the 
establishments  soon  began  to  decay.  After  the  over 
throw  of  the  Spanish  rule,  in  1822,  the  territory  of 
California  was  divided  into  two  portions.  The  penin 
sula  was  then  called  Lower  California,  and  the  whole 
of  the  continental  territory  called  Upper  California. 
When  the  Mexicans  adopted  a  constitution,  in  1824, 
each  of  these  territories  became  entitled  to  send  one 
representative  to  the  National  Congress.  At  the 
same  time,  the  adult  Indians  who  could  be  considered 
civilized,  were  declared  citizens  of  the  republic,  and 
had  lands  given  to  them.  This,  of  course,  freed  them 
from  submission  to  the  missionaries,  who,  thus  deprived 
of  their  authority,  either  returned  to  Spain  or  Mexico, 
or  took  refuge  in  other  lands.  The  Indians  being 
free  from  restraint,  soon  sank  to  a  low  depth  of  bar 
barism  and  vice. 

Immediately  after  the   overthrow  of  the   Spanish 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  25 

authorities,  the  ports  of  California  began  to  be  the 
resort  of  foreigners,  principally  whalers  and  traders 
from  the  United  States.  The  trade  in  which  they 
engaged,  that  of  exchanging  manufactured  goods  for 
the  provisions,  hide  and  tallow  furnished  by  the 
natives,  was  at  first  irregular,  but  as  it  increased,  it 
became  more  systematic,  and  mercantile  houses  were 
established  in  the  principal  ports.  The  Mexican 
government  became  dissatisfied  with  this  state  of 
things,  and  ordered  the  governor  of  Upper  California 
to  enforce  the  laws  which  prohibited  foreigners  from 
entering  or  residing  in  the  territories  of  Mexico  with 
out  a  special  permission  from  the  authorities.  Accord 
ingly,  in  1828,  a  number  of  American  citizens  were 
seized  at  San  Diego,  and  kept  in  confinement  until 
1830.  In  that  year,  an  insurrection  broke  out, 
headed  by  General  Solis,  and  the  captured  Americans 
were  of  some  assistance  in  suppressing  it,  and,  in  con 
sideration  of  their  services,  they  were  permitted  to 
leave  the  territory. 

The  Mexican  government  strove  to  prevent  the 
evils  expected  to  flow  from  the  presence  of  numbers 
of  foreigners  in  California,  by  establishing  colonies  of 
their  own  citizens  in  the  territory.  A  number  of 
persons  were  sent  out  from  Mexico,  to  settle  on  the 
lands  of  the  missions,  but  they  never  reached  their 
destination.  The  administration  which  originated  the 
scheme  was  overthrown,  and  the  new  authorities 
ordered  the  settlers  to  be  driven  back  to  Mexico.  In 
1836,  the  federal  system  was  abolished  by  the  Mexi 
can  government,  and  a  new  constitution  adopted, 
which  destroyed  all  state  rights,  and  established  a 
central  power.  This  was  strenuously  resisted  in  Cali 
fornia.  The  people  rose,  and  drove  the  Mexican 


26  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

officers  from  the  country,  declaring  that  they  would 
remain  independent  until  the  federal  constitution  was 
restored.  The  general  government  issued  strong  pro 
clamations  against  the  Californians,  and  sent  an  expe 
dition  to  re-establish  its  authority.  But  General 
Urrea,  by  whom  the  expedition  was  commanded, 
declared  in  favor  of  the  federalists,  and  the  inhabitants 
governed  themselves  until  July,  1887,  when  they 
swore  allegiance  to  the  new  constitution. 

Things  went  on  quietly  in  California  until  1842. 
In  that  year,  Commodore  Jones,  while  cruising  in  the 
Pacific,  received  information  which  led  him  to  believe 
that  Mexico  had  declared  war  against  the  United 
States.  He  determined  to  strike  a  blow  at  the  sup 
posed  enemy,  and,  accordingly,  he  appeared  before 
Monterey,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1842,  with  the 
frigate  United  States  and  the  sloop-of-war  Cyane. 
He  demanded  the  surrender  of  all  the  castles,  posts, 
and  military  places,  on  penalty,  if  refused,  of  the  visi 
tation  of  the  horrors  of  war.  The  people  were  asto 
nished.  A  council  decided  that  no  defence  could  be 
made,  and  every  thing  was  surrendered  at  once  to  the 
unexpected  Americans.  The  flag  of  the  United  States 
was  hoisted,  and  the  commodore  issued  a  proclamation 
to  the  Californians,  inviting  them  to  submit  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  which  would  pro 
tect  them  in  the  exercise  of  their  rights.  The  procla 
mation  was  scarcely  issued,  before  the  commodore 
became  aware  of  the  peaceable  relations  existing 
between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  and  he  accord 
ingly  restored  the  possession  of  Monterey  to  the 
authorities,  and  retired  with  his  forces  to  his  ships, 
just  twenty-four  hours  after  the  surrender.  This 
affair  irritated  the  inhabitants  considerably,  and,  no 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  27 

doubt,  tended  to  increase  the  ill-feeling  before  exist 
ing  between  Mexico  and  the  people  of  the  United 
States. 


CHAPTER    Y. 

FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  WAR  TILL  ITS  CLOSE. 

WAR  was  declared  by  Mexico  against  the  United 
States,  in  May,  1846.  The  same  month,  orders  were 
transmitted  to  Commodore  Sloat,  commanding  the 
Pacific  squadron,  instructing  him  to  protect  the 
interests  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  near  his 
station,  and  to  employ  his  forces  to  the  best  advantage 
in  operations  directed  against  the  Mexican  territory 
on  the  Pacific.  The  fleet  under  Commodore  Sloat 
was  the  largest  the  Americans  ever  sent  to  that  quar 
ter,  and  the  men  were  anxious  to  commence  active 
operations.  Soon  after  receiving  his  first  orders,  the 
commodore  was  again  instructed  to  take  and  keep 
possession  of  Upper  California ;  or,  at  least,  of  the 
principal  ports. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  Commodore  Sloat  left  Mazat- 
lan,  in  the  flag-ship  Savannah,  and  on  the  2d  of  July, 
reached  Monterey,  in  Upper  California.  There  he 
found  the  Cyane  and  Levant,  and  learned  that  the 
Portsmouth  was  at  San  Francisco,  as  previously 
arranged.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Captain  Mer- 
vine  was  sent  to  demand  the  surrender  of  Monterey. 
The  Mexican  commandant  replied  that  he  was  not 
authorized  to  surrender  the  place,  but  referred  Com- 


28  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

mo  (lore  Sloat  to  the  commanding-general  of  Califor 
nia.  A  force  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  marines  and  sea 
men  was  immediately  landed,  under  Captain  Mervine, 
and  they  marched  to  the  custom-house.  There  they 
hoisted  the  American  flag  amid  cheers  and  a  salute  of 
twenty-one  guns.  The  proclamation  of  Commodore 
Sloat  was  then  read  and  posted  about  the  town. 

After  taking  possession  of  Monterey,  Commodore 
Sloat  despatched  a  courier  to  the  commanding-general 
of  California,  summoning  him  to  surrender  every  thing 
under  his  control  in  the  country,  and  assuring  him  of 
protection  if  he  should  comply.  The  general  refused, 
and  said  he  would  defend  the  country  as  long  as  he 
could  reckon  on  a  single  person  to  join  his  cause.  A 
summons  to  surrender  was  also  sent  to  the  governor 
of  Santa  Barbara,  but  no  answer  was  returned. 
Orders  were  despatched  to  Commander  Montgomery, 
in  the  Portsmouth,  at  San  Francisco,  directing  him  to 
take  possession  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and 
hoist  the  flag  of  the  United  States  at  Yerba  Buena. 

On  the  Oth  of  July,  the  day  after  the  receipt  of  his 
orders,  Montgomery  landed  at  Yerba  Buena  with 
seventy  seamen  and  marines,  and  hoisted  the  American 
flag  in  the  public  square,  amid  the  cheers  of  the 
people.  A  proclamation  was  then  posted  to  the  flag 
staff,  and  Montgomery  addressed  the  people.  The 
greater  part  of  the  seamen  and  marines  then  returned 
to  the  ship,  leaving  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Watson  with  a 
small  guard,  formally  installed  as  military  occupant 
of  the  post.  Thirty-two  of  the  male  residents  of 
Yerba  Buena  were  enrolled  as  a  volunteer  corps, 
choosing  their  own  officers.  Lieutenant  Missroon  was 
despatched  with  a  small  party  of  these  volunteers  to 
reconnoitre  the  Presidio  and  fort.  He  returned  the 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


29 


same  day,  and  reported  that  the  Presidio  had  been 
abandoned,  and  that  the  fort,  seven  miles  from  the 
town,  was  dilapidated  and  mounted  only  a  few  old 
pieces  of  cannon.  The  flag  of  the  United  States  had 
been  displayed  from  its  ramparts.  On  the  llth, 
Montgomery  informed  Commodore  Sloat  that  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  was  then  flying  at  Yerba  Buena, 
Sutter's  Fort,  on  the  Sacramento,  Bodega,  on  the 
coast,  and  Sonoma.  The  inhabitants  of  these  places 
appeared  to  be  satisfied  with  the  protection  afforded 
them  by  the  Americans. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  Commodore  Sloat  sent  a  flag 
to  the  foreigners  of  the  pueblo  of  San  Jose,  about 
seventy  miles  from  Monterey,  in  the  interior,  and 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  place  of  the  alcaldes. 
On  the  15th,  Commodore  Stockton  arrived  at  Mon 
terey,  in  the  frigate  Congress ;  and  Commodore  Sloat 
being  in  bad  health,  the  command  devolved  upon 
Stockton,  and  Sloat  returned  home.  The  operations 
of  Commodore  Stockton,  from  the  23d  of  July  to  the 
28th  of  August,  1846,  have  been  rapidly  sketched  by 
himself  in  his  despatches  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy. 
From  these  we  condense  a  short  account. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  the  commodore  organized  the 
"  California  Battalion  of  Mounted  Riflemen."  Captain 
Fremont  was  appointed  major,  and  Lieutenant  Gil- 
lespie  captain  of  the  battalion.  The  next  day,  they 
were  embarked  on  board  the  sloop-of-war  Cyane, 
Commander  Dupont,  and  sailed  from  Monterey  for 
San  Diego,  in  order  to  land  south  of  the  Mexican 
force,  consisting  of  500  men,  under  General  Castro, 
well  fortified  at  a  place  three  miles  from  the  city.  A 
few  days  afterwards,  Commodore  Stockton  sailed  in 
the  Congress  for  San'  Pedro,  thirty  miles  from  Monte- 


30  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

rey,  and  having  landed,  marched  for  the  Mexican 
camp.  When  he  arrived  within  twelve  miles  of  the 
Mexicans,  they  fled  in  small  parties,  in  different  direc 
tions.  Most  of  the  principal  officers  were  afterwards 
taken,  but  the  mounted  riflemen  not  getting  up  in 
time,  most  of  the  men  escaped.  On  the  13th  of 
August,  Commodore  Stockton  being  joined  by  eighty 
riflemen,  under  Major  Fremont,  entered  the  capital 
of  California,  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,  or  the 
"City  of  the  Angels."  Thus,  in  less  than  a  month 
after  Stockton's  assuming  command,  the  American 
flag  was  flying  from  every  commanding  position 
in  California,  conquered  by  three  hundred  and  sixty 
men,  mostly  sailors. 

The  form  of  government  established  in  California, 
after  the  conquest,  was  as  follows  :  The  executive 
power  was  vested  in  a  governor,  holding  office  for  four 
years  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  President  of  the 
Unit-ed  States.  The  governor  was  to  reside  in  the 
territory,  be  commander-in- chief  of  the  army  thereof, 
perform  all  the  duties  of  a  superintendent  of  Indian 
aifciirs,  have  a  pardoning  and  reprieving  power,  com 
mission  all  persons  appointed  to  office  under  the  laws 
of  said  territory,  and  approve  all  laws  passed,  by  the 
legislature  before  they  took  effect.  There  was  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Territory  established, 
whose  principal  duty  was  to  preserve  all  the  laws  and 
proceedings  of  the  legislative  council,  and  all  the  acts 
and  proceedings  of  the  governor.  The  legislative 
power  was  vested  in  the  governor  and  a  council  of 
seven  persons,  who  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor 
at  first,  and  hold  their  office  for  two  years ;  afterwards 
they  were  to  be  elected  by  the  people.  All  the  laws 
of  Mexico,  and  the  municipal  officers  existing  in  the 


J 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


81 


territory  before  the  conquest,  were  continued  until 
altered  by  the  governor  and  council. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1846,  Commodore  Stockton 
adopted  a  tariff  of  duties  on  all  goods  imported  from 
foreign  parts,  of  fifteen  per  cent,  ad  valorem,  and  a 
tonnage  duty  of  fifty  cents  per  ton  on  all  foreign  ves 
sels.  On  the  15th  of  September,  when  the  elections 
were  held,  Walter  Colton,  the  chaplain  of  the  frigate 
Congress,  was  elected  Alcalde  of  Monterey.  In  the 
mean  time,  a  newspaper  called  the  "  Californian,"  had 
been  established  by  Messrs.  Colton  and  Semple.  This 
was  the  first  newspaper  issued  in  California. 

Early  in  September,  Commodore  Stockton  withdrew 
his  forces  from  Los  Angeles,  and  proceeded  with  his 
squadron  to  San  Francisco.  Scarcely  had  he  arrived 
when  he  received  intelligence  that  all  the  country 
below  Monterey  was  in  arms  and  the  Mexican  flag 
again  hoisted.  The  Californians  invested  the  "  City 
of  the  Angels,"  on  the  23d  of  September.  That 
place  was  guarded  by  thirty  riflemen  under  Captain 
Gillespie,  and  the  Californians  investing  it  numbered 
300.  Finding  himself  overpowered,  Captain  Gillespie 
capitulated  on  the  30th,  and  thence  retired  with  all 
the  foreigners  aboard  of  a  sloop-of-war,  and  sailed  for 
Monterey.  Lieutenant  Talbot,  who  commanded  only 
nine  men  at  Santa  Barbara,  refused  to  surrender,  and 
marched  out  with  his  men,  arms  in  hand.  The  frigate 
Savannah  was  sent  to  relieve  Los  Angeles,  but  she 
did  not  arrive  till  after  the  above  events  had  occurred. 
Her  crew,  numbering  320  men,  landed  at  San  Pedro 
and  marched  to  meet  the  Californians.  About  half 
way  between  San  Pedro  and  Los  Angeles,  about 
fifteen  miles  from  their  ship,  the  sailors  found  the 
enemy  drawn  up  on  a  plain.  The  Californians  were 


32  HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

mounted  on  fine  horses,  and  with  artillery,  had  every 
advantage.  The  sailors  were  forced  to  retreat  with  a 
loss  of  five  killed  and  six  wounded. 

Commodore  Stockton  came  down  in  the  Congress 
to  San  Pedro,  and  then  marched  for  the  "  City  of  the 
Angels,"  the  men  dragging  six  of  the  ship's  guns.  At 
the  Rancho  Sepulvida,  a  large  force  of  the  Californians 
was  posted.  Commodore  Stockton  sent  one  hundred 
men  forward  to  receive  the  fire  of  the  enemy  and  then 
fall  back  upon  the  main  body  without  returning  it.  The 
main  body  was  formed  in  a  triangle,  with  the  guns 
hid  by  the  men.  By  the  retreat  of  the  advance  party, 
the  enemy  were  decoyed  close  to  the  main  force,  when 
the  wings  were  extended  and  a  deadly  fire  opened 
upon  the  astonished  Californians.  More  than  a  hun 
dred  were  killed,  the  same  number  wounded,  and  their 
whole  force  routed.  About  a  hundred  prisoners  were 
taken,  many  of  whom  were  at  the  time  on  parole  and 
had  signed  an  obligation  not  to  take  up  arms  during 
the  war. 

Commodore  Stockton  soon  mounted  his  men  and 
prepared  for  operations  on  shore.  Skirmishes  followed, 
and  were  continually  occurring  until  January,  1847, 
when  a  decisive  action  occurred.  General  Kearny 
had  arrived  in  California,  after  a  long  and  painful 
march  overland,  and  his  co-operation  was  of  great 
service  to  Stockton.  The  Americans  left  San  Diego 
on  the  29th  of  December,  to  march  to  Los  Angeles. 
The  Californians  determined  to  meet  them  on  their 
route,  and  decide  the  fate  of  the  country  in  a  general 
battle.  The  American  force  amounted  to  six  hundred 
men,  and  was  composed  of  detachments  from  the  ships 
Congress,  Savannah,  Portsmouth  and  Cyane,  aided 
by  General  Kearny,  with  sixty  men  on  foot,  from  the 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA.  OO 

first  regiment  of  United  States  dragoons,  and  Captain 
Gillespie  with  sixty  mounted  riflemen.  The  troops 
marched  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  in  ten  days,  and, 
on  the  8th  of  January,  they  found  the  Californians  in 
a  strong  position  on  the  high  bank  of  the  San  Gabriel 
river,  with  six  hundred  mounted  men  and  four  pieces 
of  artillery,  prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the 
river.  The  Americans  waded  through  the  water, 
dragging  their  guns  with  them,  exposed  to  a  galling 
fire  from  the  enemy,  without  returning  a  shot.  When 
they  reached  the  opposite  shore,  the  Californians 
charged  upon  them,  but  were  driven  back.  They 
then  charged  up  the  bank  and  succeeded  in  driving 
the  Californians  from  their  post.  Stockton,  with  his 
force,  continued  his  march,  and  the  next  day,  in  cross 
ing  the  plains  of  Mesa,  the  enemy  made  another 
attempt  to  save  their  capital.  They  were  concealed 
with  their  artillery  in  a  ravine,  until  the  Americans 
came  within  gun-shot,  when  they  opened  a  brisk  fire 
upon  their  right  flank,  and  at  the  same  time  charged 
both  their  front  and  rear.  But  the  guns  of  the  Cali 
fornians  were  soon  silenced,  and  the  charge  repelled. 
The  Californians  then  fled,  and  the  next  morning  the 
Americans  entered  Los  Angeles  without  opposition. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  killed  and  wounded  did 
not  exceed  twenty,  while  that  of  their  opponents 
reached  between  seventy  and  eighty. 

These  two  battles  decided  the  contest  in  California. 
General  Flores,  governor  and  commandant-general  of 
the  Californians,  as  he  styled  himself,  immediately 
after  the  Americans  entered  Los  Angeles,  made  his 
escape  and  his  troops  dispersed.  The  territory  be 
came  again  tranquil,  and  the  civil  government  was 
soon  in  operation  again  in  the  places  where  it  had 


34  HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

been  interrupted  by  the  revolt.  Commodore  Stockton 
and  General  Kearny  having  a  misunderstanding 
about  their  respective  powers,  Colonel  Fremont 
exercised  the  duties  of  governor  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  California,  declining  to  obey  the  orders  of 
General  Kearny. 

The  account  of  the  adventures  and  skirmishes  with 
which  the  small  force  of  United  States  troops  under 
General  Kearny  met,  while  on  their  march  to  San 
Diego,  in  Upper  California,  is  one  of  the  most  in 
teresting  to  which  the  contest  gave  birth.  The  party, 
which  consisted  of  one  hundred  men  when  it  started 
from  Santa  Fe',  reached  Warner's  rancho,  the  fron 
tier  settlement  in  California,  on  the  Sonoma  route, 
on  the  2d  of  December,  1846.  They  continued  their 
march,  and  on  the  5th  were  met  by  a  small  party  of 
volunteers,  under  Captain  Gillespie,  sent  out  by  Com 
modore  Stockton  to  meet  them,  and  inform  them  of 
the  revolt  of  the  Californians.  The  party  encamped 
for  the  night  at  Stokes's  rancho,  about  forty  miles 
from  San  Diego.  Information  was  received  that 
an  armed  party  of  Californians  was  at  San  Pas- 
qual,  three  leagues  from  Stokes's  rancho.  A  party 
of  dragoons  was  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  they  re 
turned  by  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th. 
Their  information  determined  General  Kearny  to 
attack  the  Californians  before  daylight,  and  arrange 
ments  were  accordingly  made.  Captain  Johnson  was 
given  the  command  of  an  advance  party  of  twelve 
dragoons,  mounted  upon  the  best  horses  in  possession 
of  the  party.  Then  followed  fifty  dragoons,  under 
Captain  Moore,  mounted  mostly  on  the  tired  mules 
they  had  ridden  from  Santa  F£ — a  distance  of  1050 
miles.  Next  came  about  twenty  volunteers,  under 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA, 


35 


Captain  Gibson.  Then  followed  two  mountain  howit 
zers,  with  dragoons  to  manage  them,  under  charge  of 
Lieutenant  Davidson.  The  remainder  of  the  dragoons 
and  volunteers  were  placed  under  command  of  Major 
Swords,  with  orders  to  follow  on  the  trail  with  the 
baggage. 

As  the  day  of  December  6th  dawned,  the  enemy  at 
San  Pasqual  were  seen  to  be  already  in  the  saddle, 
and  Captain  Johnson,  with  his  advance  guard,  made  a 
furious  charge  upon  them ;  he  being  supported  by  the 
dragoons,  the  Californians  at  length  gave  way.  They 
had  kept  up  a  continual  fire  from  the  first  appearance 
of  the  dragoons,  and  had  done  considerable  execution. 
Captain  Johnson  was  shot  dead  in  his  first  charge. 
The  enemy  were  pursued  by  Captain  Moore  and  his 
dragoons,  and  they  retreated  about  half  a  mile,  when 
seeing  an  interval  between  the  small  advance  party 
of  Captain  Moore  and  the  main  force  coming  to  his 
support,  they  rallied  their  whole  force,  and  charged 
with  their  lances.  For  five  minutes  they  held  the 
ground,  doing  considerable  execution,  until  the  arrival 
of  the  rest  of  the  American  party,  when  they  broke 
and  fled.  The  troops  of  Kearny  lost  two  captains, 
a  lieutenant,  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  and  twelve 
privates.  Among  the  wounded  were  General  Kearny, 
Lieutenant  Warner,  Captains  Gillespie  and  Gibson, 
one  sergeant,  one  bugleman,  and  nine  privates.  The 
Californians  carried  off  all  their  wounded  and  dead 
except  six. 

On  the  Tth  the  march  was  resumed,  and,  near  San 
Bernardo,  Kearny's  advance  encountered  and  defea-ted 
a  small  party  of  the  Californians  who  had  taken  post 
on  a  hill.  At  San  Bernardo,  the  troops  remained  till 
the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  they  were  joined  by  a 


36  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

party  of  sailors  and  marines,  under  Lieutenant  Gray. 
They  then  proceeded  upon  their  march,  and  on  the 
12th,  arrived  at  San  Diego ;  having  thus  completed  a 
march  of  eleven  hundred  miles  through  an  enemy's 
country,  with  but  one  hundred  men.  The  force  of 
General  Kearny  having  joined  that  of  Commodore 
Stockton,  the  expedition  against  Los  Angeles,  of 
which  we  have  given  an  account  in  this  chapter,  was 
successfully  consummated,  and  tranquillity  restored  in 
California.  General  Kearny  and  Commodore  Stock 
ton  returned  to  the  United  States  in  January,  1847, 
leaving  Colonel  Fremont  to  exercise  the  office  of 
governor  and  military  commandant  of  California.  No 
further  events  of  an  importance  worth  recording  occur 
red  till  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DISCOVERY   OF   TEE    GOLD   PLACERS. 

BY  the  treaty  concluded  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico,  in  184T,  the  territory  of  Upper  Califor 
nia  became  the  property  of  the  United  States.  Little 
thought  the  Mexican  government  of  the  value  of  the 
land  they  were  ceding,  further  than  its  commercial 
importance  ;  and,  doubtless,  little  thought  the  buyers 
of  the  territory,  that  its  soil  was  pregnant  with  a 
wealth  untold,  and  that  its  rivers  flowed  over  golden 
beds. 

This   territory,    now  belonging   to   the   American 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  37 

Union,  embraces  an  area  of  448,961  square  miles.  It 
extends  along  the  Pacific  coast,  from  about  the  thirty- 
second  parallel  of  north  latitude,  a  distance  of  near 
seven  hundred  miles,  to  the  forty-second  parallel,  the 
southern  boundary  of  Oregon.  On  the  east,  it  is 
bounded  by  New  Mexico.  During  the  long  period 
which  transpired  between  its  discovery  and  its  cession 
to  the  United  States,  this  vast  tract  of  country  was 
frequently  visited  by  men  of  science,  from  all  parts 
of  the  world.  Repeated  examinations  were  made  by 
learned  and  enterprising  officers  and  civilians  ;  but 
none  of  them  discovered  the  important  fact,  that  the 
mountain  torrents  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  were  con 
stantly  pouring  down  their  golden  sands  into  the 
valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin.  The 
glittering  particles  twinkled  beneath  their  feet,  in  the 
ravines  which  they  explored,  or  glistened  in  the  water 
courses  which  they  forded,  yet  they  passed  them  by 
unheeded.  Not  a  legend  or  tradition  was  heard 
among  the  white  settlers,  or  the  aborigines,  that 
attracted  their  curiosity.  A  nation's  ransom  lay 
within  their  grasp,  but,  strange  to  say,  it  escaped  their 
notice — it  flashed  and  sparkled  all  in  vain.* 

The  Russian  American  Company  had  a  large 
establishment  at  Ross  and  Bodega,  ninety  miles  north 
of  San  Francisco,  founded  in  the  year  1812  ;  and 
factories  were  also  established  in  the  territory  by  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company.  Their  agents  and  employes 
ransacked  the  whole  country  west  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  or  Snowy  Mountain,  in  search  of  game.  In 
1838,  Captain  Sutter,  formerly  an  officer  in  the  Swiss 

*  A  gold  placera  was  discovered  some  years  ago,  near  the  mission 
of  San  Fernando,  but  it  was  very  little  worked,  on  account  of  the 
want  of  water. 

4 


38  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Guards  of  Charles  X.,  King  of  France,  emigrated 
from  the  state  of  Missouri  to  Upper  California,  and 
obtained  from  the  Mexican  government  a  conditional 
grant  of  thirty  leagues  square  of  land,  bounded  on  the 
west  by  the  Sacramento  river.  Having  purchased 
the  stock,  arms,  and  ammunition  of  the  Russian 
establishment,  he  erected  a  dwelling  and  fortification 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Sacramento,  about  fifty  miles 
from  its  mouth,  and  near  what  was  termed,  in  allusion 
to  the  new  settlers,  the  American  Fork.  This  formed 
the  nucleus  of  a  thriving  settlement,  to  which  Captain 
Sutter  gave  the  name  of  New  Helvetia.  It  is  situated 
at  the  head  of  navigation  for  vessels  on  the  Sacra 
mento,  in  latitude  38°  33'  45"  north,  and  longitude 
121°  20'  05"  west.  During  a  residence  of  ten  years 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  recently  discovered 
placards,  or  gold  regions,  Captain  Sutter  was  neither 
the  wiser  nor  the  richer  for  the  brilliant  treasures 
that  lay  scattered  around  him.* 

In  the  year  1841,  careful  examinations  of  the  Bay 
of  San  Francisco,  and  of  the  Sacramento  River  and 
its  tributaries,  were  made  by  Lieutenant  Wilkes,  the 
commander  of  the  Exploring  Expedition ;  and  a  party 
under  Lieutenant  Emmons,  of  the  navy,  proceeded  up 
the  valley  of  the  Willamette,  crossed  the  intervening 
highlands,  and  descended  the  Sacramento.  In  1843—4, 
similar  examinations  were  made  by  Captain,  after 
wards  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  of  the  Topogra 
phical  Engineers,  and  in  1846,  by  Major  Emory,  of 
the  same  corps.  None  of  these  officers  made  any 
discoveries  of  minerals,  although  they  were  led  to 
conjecture,  as  private  individuals  who  had  visited  the 

*  Farnham's  Adventures  in  California.— Wilkes's  Narrative  of  the 
Exploring  Expedition. — Fremont's  Narrative. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


39 


country  had  done,  from  its  volcanic  formation  and 
peculiar  geological  features,  that  they  might  be  found 
to  exist  in  considerable  quantities.* 

As  is  'often  the  case,  chance  at  length  accomplished 
what  science  had  failed  to  do.  In  the  winter  of 
1847—8,  a  Mr.  Marshall  commenced  the  construction 
of  a  saw-mill  for  Captain  Sutler,  on  the  north  branch 
of  the  American  Fork,  and  about  fifty  miles  above 
New  Helvetia,  in  a  region  abounding  with  pine  timber. 
The  dam  and  race  were  completed,  but  on  attempting 
to  put  the  mill  in  motion,  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
tail-race  was  too  narrow  to  permit  the  water  to  escape 
with  perfect  freedom.  A  strong  current  was  then 
passed  in,  to  wash  it  wider  and  deeper,  by  which  a 
large  bed  of  mud  and  gravel  was  thrown  up  at  the 
foot  of  the  race.  Some  days  after  this  occurrence, 
Mr.  Marshall  observed  a  number  of  brilliant  particles 
on  this  deposit  of  mud,  which  attracted  his  attention. 
On  examining  them,  he  became  satisfied  that  they 
were  gold,  and  communicated  the  fact  to  Captain 
Sutler.  It  was  agreed  between  them,  that  the  cir 
cumstance  should  not  be  made  public  for  the  present ; 
but,  like  the  secret  of  Midas,  it  could  not  be  concealed. 
The  Mormon  emigrants,  of  whom  Mr.  Marshall  was 
one,  were  soon  made  acquainted  with  the  discovery, 
and  in  a  few  wreeks  all  California  was  agitated  with 
the  starling  information. 

*  See  Farnham's  Adventures.  Wilkes's  and  Fremont's  Narratives, 
and  Emory's  Report.— In  184G,  Eugenio  Macnamara,  a  Catholic  priest 
and  Missionary,  obtained  a  grant  of  a  large  tract  of  land  between  the 
San  Joaquin  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  Cosumnes  and  the  Tulares 
in  the  vicinity  of  San  Gabriel,  from  Pio  Pico,  governor  of  the  Califor- 
nias,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  upon  it  a  large  colony  of  Irish 
Catholics ;  but  the  grant  was  not  ratified  by  the  Central  Government, 
and  the  project  was  not  carried  into  effect.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  Father  Macnamara  was  aware  of  the  existence  of  gold  in  the 
valley  of  the  San  Joaquin. 


40  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Business  of  every  kind  was  neglected,  and  the 
ripened  grain  was  left  in  the  fields  unharvested. 
Nearly  the  whole  population  of  Upper  California  be 
came  infected  with  the  mania,  and  flocked  to  the 
mines.  Whalers  and  merchant  vessels  entering  the 
ports  were  abandoned  by  their  crews,  and  the  Ameri 
can  soldiers  and  sailors  deserted  in  scores.  Upon  the 
disbandment  of  Colonel  Stevenson's  regiment,  most 
of  the  men  made  their  way  to  the  mineral  regions. 
Within  three  months  after  the  discovery,  it  was  com 
puted  that  there  were  near  four  thousand  persons, 
including  Indians,  who  were  mostly  employed  by  the 
whites,  engaged  in  washing  for  gold.  Various  modes 
were  adopted  to  separate  the  metal  from  the  sand  and 
gravel — some  making  use  of  tin  pans,  others  of  close- 
woven  Indian  baskets,  and  others  still,  of  a  rude 
machine  called  the  cradle,  six  or  eight  feet  long,  and 
mounted  on  rockers,  with  a  coarse  grate,  or  sieve,  at 
one  end,  but  open  at  the  other.  The  washings  were 
mainly  confined  to  the  low  wet  grounds,  and  the  mar 
gins  of  the  streams — the  earth  being  rarely  disturbed 
more  than  eighteen  inches  below  the  surface.  The 
value  of  the  gold  dust  obtained  by  each  man,  per  day, 
is  said  to  have  ranged  from  ten  to  fifty  dollars,  and 
sometimes  even  to  have  far  exceeded  that.  The  natu 
ral  consequence  of  this  state  of  things  was,  that  the 
price  of  labor,  and,  indeed,  of  every  thing,  rose  imme 
diately  from  ten  to  twenty  fold.* 

As  may  readily  be  conjectured,  every  stream  and 
ravine  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento  was  soon  ex 
plored.  Gold  was  found  on  every  one  of  its  tributa- 

*  Official  Despatch  of  Colonel  Mason,  Commander  of  the.  10th  Mili 
tary  Department,  August  17,  1848.— Letters  of  Thomas  C.  Larkin, 
U.  S.  Consul  at  Monterey,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  June  1,  and 
June  28,  1848. 


HISTORY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


41 


ries ;  but  the  richest  earth  was  discovered  near  the 
Rio  de  los  Plumas,  or  Feather  River,*  and  its  branches, 
the  Yuba  and  Bear  rivers,  and  on  Weber's  creek,  a 
tributary  of  the  American  Fork.  Explorations  were 
also  made  in  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin,  which 
resulted  in  the  discovery  of  gold  on  the  Cosumne's 
and  other  streams,  and  in  the  ravines  of  the  Coast 
Range,  west  of  the  valley,  as  far  down  as  Ciudad  de 
los  Angeles. 

In  addition  to  the  gold  mines,  other  important  dis 
coveries  were  made  in  Upper  California.  A  rich  vein 
of  quicksilver  was  opened  at  New  Almaden,  near  Santa 
Clara,  wrhich,  with  imperfect  machinery, — the  heat  by 
which  the  metal  is  made  to  exude  from  the  rock  being 
applied  by  a  very  rude  process, — yielded  over  thirty 
per  cent.  This  mine — one  of  the  principal  advan 
tages  to  be  derived  from  which  will  be,  that  the  work 
ing  of  the  silver  mines  scattered  through  the  territory 
must  now  become  profitable — is  superior  to  those 
of  Almaden,  in  Old  Spain,  and  second  only  to 
those  of  Idria,  near  Trieste,  the  richest  in  the 
world. 

Lead  mines  were  likewise  discovered  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Sonoma,  and  vast  beds  of  iron  ore  near 
the  American  Fork,  yielding  from  eighty-five  to  ninety 
per  cent.  Copper,  platina,  tin,  sulphur,  zinc,  and 
cobalt,  were  discovered  every  where ;  coal  was  found 
to  exist  in  large  quantities  in  the  Cascade  range  of 
Oregon,  of  which  the  Sierra  Nevada  is  a  continuation ; 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  all  this  mineral  wealth,  there 

*  Feather  River  is  the  first  considerable  branch  of  the  Sacramento 
below  the  Prairie  Buttes.  It  has  a  course  of  about  forty  miles,  and 
empties  into  the  main  river  about  fifteen  miles  above  New  Helvetia. 
Though  the  Sacramento  is  navigable  for  vessels  only  to  that  place, 
boats  can  pass  up  one  hundred  miles  further. 


42  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

are  immense  quarries  of  marble  and  granite,  for 
building  purposes. 

Colonel  Mason  had  succeeded  Colonel  Fremont  in 
the  post  of  governor  of  California  and  military  com 
mandant.  A  regiment  of  New  York  troops,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Stevenson,  had  been  ordered 
to  California  before  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of 
peace,  and  formed  the  principal  part  of  the  military 
force  in  the  territory. 

Colonel  Mason  expressed  the  opinion,  in  his  official 
despatch,  that  "there  is  more  gold  in  the  country 
drained  by  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers, 
than  will  pay  the  cost  of  the  [late]  war  with  Mexico 
a  hundred  times  over."  Should  this  even  prove  to  be 
an  exaggeration,  there  can  be  little  reason  to  doubt, 
when  we  take  into  consideration  all  the  mineral  re 
sources  of  the  country,  that  the  territory  of  California 
is  by  far  the  richest  acquisition  made  by  this  govern 
ment  since  its  organization. 

The  appearance  of  the  mines,  at  the  period  of 
Governor  Mason's  visit,  three  months  after  the  dis 
covery,  he  thus  graphically  describes  : 

"  At  the  urgent  solicitation  of  many  gentlemen,  I 
delayed  there  [at  Sutter's  Fort]  to  participate  in  the 
first  public  celebration  of  our  national  anniversary  at 
that  fort,  but  on  the  5th  resumed  the  journey,  and 
proceeded  twenty-five  miles  up  the  American  Fork  to 
a  point  on  it  now  known  as  the  Lower  Mines,  or  Mor 
mon  Diggins.  The  hill-sides  were  thickly  strewn  with 
canvas  tents  and  bush  arbors ;  a  store  was  erected, 
and  several  boarding  shanties  in  operation.  The  day 
was  intensely  hot,  yet  about  two  hundred  men  were 
at  work  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun,  washing  for  gold 
— some  with  tin  pans,  some  with  close-woven  Indian 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


43 


baskets,  but  the  greater  part  had  a  rude  machine, 
known  as  the  cradle.  This  is  on  rockers,  six  or  eight 
feet  long,  open  at  the  foot,  and  at  its  head  has  a  coarse 
grate,  or  sieve ;  the  bottom  is  rounded,  with  small 
cleats  nailed  across.  Four  men  are  required  to  work 
this  machine ;  one  digs  the  ground  in  the  bank  close 
by  the  stream ;  another  carries  it  to  the  cradle  and 
empties  it  on  the  grate  ;  a  third  gives  a  violent  rock 
ing  motion  to  the  machine ;  while  a  fourth  clashes  on 
water  from  the  stream  itself. 

u  The  sieve  keeps  the  coarse  stones  from  entering 
the  cradle,  the  current  of  water  washes  off  the  earthy 
matter,  and  the  gravel  is  gradually  carried  out  at  the 
foot  of  the  machine,  leaving  the  gold  mixed  with  a 
heavy,  fine  black  sand  above  the  first  cleats.  The 
sand  and  gold,  mixed  together,  are  then  drawn  off 
through  auger  holes  into  a  pan  below,  are  dried  in  the 
sun,  and  afterward  separated  by  blowing  off  the  sand. 
A  party  of  four  men  thus  employed  at  the  lower 
mines,  averaged  $100  a  day.  The  Indians,  and  those 
who  have  nothing  but  pans  or  willow  baskets,  gradu 
ally  wash  out  the  earth  and  separate  the  gravel  by 
hand,  leaving  nothing  but  the  gold  mixed  with  sand, 
which  is  separated  in  the  manner  before  described. 
The  gold  in  the  lower  mines  is  in  fine  bright  suales, 
of  which  I  send  several  specimens. 

"  From  the  mill  [where  the  gold  was  first  discovered], 
Mr.  Marshall  guided  me  up  the  mountain  on  the 
opposite  or  north  bank  of  the  south  fork,  where,  in 
the  bed  of  small  streams  or  ravines,  now  dry,  a  great 
deal  of  coarse  gold  has  been  found.  I  there  saw 
several  parties  at  work,  all  of  whom  were  doing  very 
well ;  a  great  many  specimens  were  shown  me,  some 
as  heavy  as  four  or  five  ounces  in  weight,  and  I  send 


44  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

three  pieces,  labeled  No.  5,  presented  by  a  Mr.  Spence. 
You  will  perceive  that  some  of  the  specimens  accom 
panying  this,  hold  mechanically  pieces  of  quartz  ;  that 
the  surface  is  rough,  and  evidently  moulded  in  the 
crevice  of  a  rock.  This  gold  cannot  have  been  car 
ried  far  by  water,  but  must  have  remained  near  where 
it  was  first  deposited  from  the  rock  that  once  bound 
it.  I  inquired  of  many  people  if  they  had  encountered 
the  metal  in  its  matrix,  but  in  every  instance  they 
said  they  had  not ;  but  that  the  gold  was  invariably 
mixed  with  washed  gravel,  or  lodged  in  the  crevices 
of  other  rocks.  All  bore  testimony  that  they  had 
found  gold  in  greater  or  less  quantities  in  the  numer 
ous  small  gullies  or  ravines  that  occur  in  that  moun 
tainous  region. 

"  On  the  7th  of  July  I  left  the  mill,  and  crossed  to 
a  stream  emptying  into  the  American  Fork,  three  or 
four  miles  below  the  saw-mill.  I  struck  this  stream 
<(now  known  as  Weber's  creek)  at  the  washings  of 
Sunol  and  Co.  They  had  about  thirty  Indians  em 
ployed,  whom  they  payed  in  merchandise.  They  were 
getting  gold  of  a  character  similar  to  that  found  in 
the  main  fork,  and  doubtless  in  sufficient  quantities  to 
satisfy  them.  I  send  you  a  small  specimen,  presented 
by  this  company,  of  their  gold.  From  this  point,  we 
proceeded  up  the  stream  about  eight  miles,  where  we 
found  a  great  many  people  and  Indians — some  engaged 
in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  and  others  in  the  small  side 
valleys  that  put  into  it.  These  latter  are  exceedingly 
rich,  and  two  ounces  were  considered  an  ordinary  yield 
for  a  day's  work.  A  small  gutter  not  more  than  a 
hundred  yards  long,  by  four  feet  wide  and  two  or  three 
feet  deep,  was  pointed  out  to  me  as  the  one  where  two 
men — William  Daly  and  Parry  McCoon — had,  a  short 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


45 


time  before,  obtained  $17,000  worth  of  gold.  Captain 
Weber  informed  me  that  he  knew  that  these  two  men 
had  employed  four  white  men  and  about  a  hundred 
Indians,*  and  that,  at  the  end  of  one  week's  work,  they 
paid  off  their  party,  and  had  left  $10,000  worth  of 
this  gold.  Another  small  ravine  was  shown  me,  from 
which  had  been  taken  upward  of  $12,000  worth  of 
gold.  Hundreds  of  similar  ravines,  to  all  appearances, 
are  as  yet  untouched.  I  could  not  have  credited  these 
reports,  had  I  not  seen,  in  the  abundance  of  the  pre 
cious  metal,  evidence  of  their  truth. 

"  Mr.  Neligh,  an  agent  of  Commodore  Stockton, 
had  been  at  work  about  three  weeks  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  and  showed  me,  in  bags  and  bottles,  over  $2000 
worth  of  gold  ;  and  Mr.  Lyman,  a  gentleman  of  edu 
cation,  and  worthy  of  every  credit,  said  he  had  been 
engaged,  with  four  others,  with  a  machine,  on  the 
American  Fork,  just  below  Slitter's  mill;  that  they 
worked  eight  days,  and  that  his  share  was  at  the  rate 
of  fifty  dollars  a  day;  but  hearing  that  others  were 
doing  better  at  Weber's  place,  they  had  removed  there, 
and  were  then  on  the  point  of  resuming  operations.  I 
might  tell  of  hundreds  of  similar  instances ;  but,  to 
illustrate  how  plentiful  the  gold  was  in  the  pockets  of 
common  laborers,  I  will  mention  a  single  occurrence 
which  took  place  in  my  presence  when  I  was  at 
Weber's  store.  This  store  was  nothing  but  an  arbor 
of  bushes,  under  which  he  had  exposed  for  sale  goods 
and  groceries  suited  to  his  customers.  A  man  came 
in,  picked  up  a  box  of  Seidlitz  powders,  and  asked  the 
price.  Captain  Weber  told  him  it  was  not  for  sale. 
The  man  offered  an  ounce  of  gold,  but  Captain  Weber 
told  him  it  only  cost  fifty  cents,  and  he  did  not. wish 
to  sell  it.  The  man  then  offered  an  ounce  and  a  half, 


46  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

when  Captain  Weber  had  to  take  it.  The  prices  of 
all  things  are  high,  and  yet  Indians,  who  before  hardly 
knew  what  a  breech  cloth  was,  can  now  afford  to  buy 
the  most  gaudy  dresses. 

^  The  country  on  either  side  of  Weber's  creek  is 
much  broken  up  by  hills,  and  is  intersected  in  every 
direction  by  small  streams  or  ravines,  which  contain 
mo/e  or  less  gold.  Those  that  have  been  worked  are 
barely  scratched ;  and  although  thousands  of  ounces 
have  been  carried  away,  I  do  not  consider  that  a  seri 
ous  impression  has  been  made  upon  the  whole.  Every 
day  was  developing  new  and  richer  deposits  ;  and  the 
only  impression  seemed  to  be,  that  the  metal  would  be 
found  in  such  abundance  as  seriously  to  depreciate  in 
value. 

"  On  the  8th  of  July,  I  returned  to  the  lower  mines, 
and  on  the  following  day  to  Slitter's,  where,  on  the 
19th,  I  was  making  preparations  for  a  visit  to  the 
Feather,  Yuba,  and  Bear  Rivers,  when  I  received  a 
letter  from  Commander  A.  R.  Long,  United  States 
Navy,  who  had  just  arrived  at  San  Francisco  from 
Mazatlan  with  a  crew  for  the  sloop-of-war  Warren, 
with  orders  to  take  that  vessel  to  the  squadron  at  La 
Paz.  Captain  Long  wrote  to  me  that  the  Mexican 
Congress  had  adjourned  without  ratifying  the  treaty 
of  peace,  that  he  had  letters  from  Commodore  Jones, 
and  that  his  orders  were  to  sail  with  the  Warren  on  or 
before  the  20th  of  July.  In  consequence  of  these,  I 
determined  to  return  to  Monterey,  and  accordingly 
arrived  here  on  the  17th  of  July.  Before  leaving 
Suiter's,  I  satisfied  myself  that  gold  existed  in  the  bed 
of  the  Feather  River,  in  the  Yuba  and  Bear,  and  in 
many  of  the  smaller  streams  that  lie  between  the 
latter  and  the  American  Fork ;  also,  that  it  had  been 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


47 


found  in  the  Cosumnes  to  the  south  of  the  American 
Fork.  In  each  of  these  streams  the  gold  is  found  in 
small  scales,  whereas  in  the  intervening  mountains  it 
occurs  in  coarser  lumps. 

"  Mr.  Sinclair,  whose  rancho  is  three  miles  above 
Sutter's,  on  the  north  side  of  the  American,  employs 
about  fifty  Indians  on  the  north  fork,  not  far  from  its 
junction  with  the  main  stream.  He  had  been  engaged 
about  five  weeks  when  I  saw  him,  and  up  to  that  time 
his  Indians  had  used  simply  closely  woven  willow 
baskets.  His  net  proceeds  (which  I  saw)  were  about 
$16jOOO  worth  of  gold.  He  showed  me  the  proceeds 
of  his  last  week's  work — fourteen  pounds  avoirdupois 
of  clean-washed  gold. 

"  The  principal  store  at  Sutter's  Fort,  that  of 
Brannan  and  Co.,  had  received  in  payment  for  goods 
$36,000  (worth  of  this  gold)  from  the  1st  of  May  to 
the  10th  of  July.  Other  merchants  had  also  made 
extensive  sales.  Large  quantities  of  goods  were  daily 
sent  forward  to  the  mines,  as  the  Indians,  heretofore 
so  poor  and  degraded,  have  suddenly  become  con 
sumers  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  I  before  mentioned 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  farmers  and  rancheros 
had  abandoned  their  fields  to  go  to  the  mines.  This 
is  not  the  case  with  Captain  Sutter,  who  was  carefully 
gathering  his  wheat,  estimated  at  40,000  bushels. 
Flour  is  already  worth  at  Sutter's  thirty-six  dollars  a 
barrel,  and  soon  will  be  fifty.  Unless  large  quantities 
of  breadstuffs  reach  the  country,  much  suffering  will 
occur ;  but  as  each  man  is  now  able  to  pay  a  large 
price,  it  is  believed  the  merchants  will  bring  from  Chili 
and  Oregon  a  plentiful  supply  for  the  coming  winter. 

"  The  most  moderate  estimate  I  could  obtain  from 
men  acquainted  with  the  subject,  was,  that  upward  of 


48  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

four  thousand  men  were  working  in  the  gold  district, 
ofi  whom  more  than  one-half  were  Indians ;  and  that 
from  $80,000  to  $50,000  worth  of  gold,  if  not  more, 
was  daily  obtained.  The  entire  gold  district,  with 
very  few  exceptions  of  grants  made  some  years  ago 
by  the  Mexican  authorities,  is  on  land  belonging  to 
the  United  States.  It  was  a  matter  of  serious  reflec 
tion  with  me,  how  I  could  secure  to  the  government 
certain  rents  or  fees  for  the  privilege  of  procuring 
this  gold  ;  but  upon  considering  the  large  extent  of 
country,  the  character  of  the  people  engaged,  and  the 
small  scattered  force  at  my  command,  I  resolved  not 
to  interfere,  but  to  permit  all  to  work  freely,  unless 
broils  and  crimes  should  call  for  interference.  I  was 
surprised  to  hear  that  crime  of  any  kind  was  very  un- 
frequent,  and  that  no  thefts  or  robberies  had  been 
committed  in  the  gold  district. 

"  All  live  in  tents,  in  bush  arbors,  or  in  the  open  air ; 
and  men  have  frequently  about  their  persons  thousands 
of  dollars  worth  of  this  gold,  and  it  was  to  me  a  mat 
ter  of  surprise  that  so  peaceful  and  quiet  state  of 
things  should  continue  to  exist.  Conflicting  claims  to 
particular  spots  of  ground  may  cause  collisions,  but 
they  will  be  rare,  as  the  extent  of  country  is  so  great, 
and  the  gold  so  abundant,  that  for  the  present  there 
is  room  enough  for  all.  Still  the  government  is  entitled 
to  rents  for  this  land,  and  immediate  steps  should  be 
devised  to  collect  them,  for  the  longer  it  is  delayed 
the  more  difficult  it  will  become.  One  plan  I  would 
suggest  is,  to  send  out  from  the  United  States  survey 
ors  with  high  salaries,  bound  to  serve  specified  periods. 

"  The  discovery  of  these  vast  deposits  of  gold  has 
entirely  changed  the  character  of  Upper  California. 
Its  people,  before  engaged  in  cultivating  their  small 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 


49 


patches  of  ground,  and  guarding  their  herds  of  cattle 
and  horses,  have  all  gone  to  the  mines,  or  are  on  their 
way  thither.  Laborers  of  every  trade  have  left  their 
work  benches,  and  tradesmen  their  shops.  Sailors 
desert  their  ships  as  fast  as  they  arrive  on  the  coast, 
and  several  -  vessels  have  gone  to  sea  with  hardly 
enough  hands  to  spread  a  sail.  Two  or  three  are  now 
at  anchor  in  San  Francisco  with  no  crew  on  board. 
Many  desertions,  too,  have  taken  place  from  the  gar 
risons  within  the  influence  of  these  mines ;  twenty-six 
soldiers  have  deserted  from  the  post  of  Sonoma, 
twenty-four  from  that  of  San  Francisco,  and  twenty- 
four  from  Monterey.  For  a  few  days  the  evil  appeared 
so  threatening,  that  great  danger  existed  that  the  gar 
risons  would  leave  in  a  body  ;  and  I  refer  you. to  my 
orders  of  the  25th  of  July,  to  show  the  steps  adopted 
to  meet  this  contingency.  I  shall  spare  no  exertions 
to  apprehend  and  punish  deserters,  but  I  believe  no 
time  in  the  history  of  our  country  has  presented  such 
temptations  to  desert  as  now  exist  in  California. 

"  The  danger  of  apprehension  is  small,  and  the 
prospect  of  high  wages  certain ;  pay  and  bounties  are 
trifles,  as  laboring  men  at  the  mines  can  now  earn  in 
one  day  more  than  double  a  soldier's  pay  and  allow 
ances  for  a  month,  and  even  the  pay  of  a  lieutenant 
or  captain  cannot  hire  a  servant.  A  carpenter  or 
mechanic  would  not  listen  to  an  offer  of  less  than 
fifteen  or  twenty  dollars  a  day.  Could  any  combina 
tion  of  affairs  try  a  man's  fidelity  more  than  this  ?  I 
really  think  some  extraordinary  mark  of  favor  should 
be  given  to  those  soldiers  who  remain  faithful  to  their 
flag  throughout  this  tempting  crisis. 

"Many  private  letters  have  gone  to  the  United 
States,  giving  accounts  of  the  vast  quantity  of  gold 


50  HISTOKT  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

recently  discovered,  and  it  maybe  a  matter  of  surprise 
why  I  have  made  no  report  on  this  subject  at  an  earlier 
date.  The  reason  is,  that  I  could  not  bring  myself 
to  believe  the  reports  that  I  heard  of  the  wealth  of 
the  gold  district  until  I  visited  it  myself.  I  have  no 
hesitation  now  in  saying  that  there  is  more  gold  in  the 
country  drained  by  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
Rivers  than  will  pay  the  cost  of  the  present  war  with 
Mexico  a  hundred  times  over.  No  capital  is  required 
to  obtain  this  gold,  as  the  laboring  man  wants  nothing 
but  his  pick  and  shovel  and  tin  pan,  with  which  to  dig 
and  wash  the  gravel ;  and  many  frequently  pick  gold 
out  of  the  crevices  of  the  rocks  with  their  butcher 
knives,  in  pieces  of  from  one  to  six  ounces. 

"  Mr.  Dye,  a  gentleman  residing  in  Monterey,  and 
worthy  of  every  credit,  has  just  returned  from  Feather 
River.  He  tells  me  that  the  company  to  which  he 
belonged  worked  seven  weeks  and  two  days,  with  an 
average  of  fifty  Indians  (washers,)  and  that  their  gross 
product  was  two  hundred  and  seventy-three  pounds 
of  gold.  His  share  (one  seventh,)  after  paying  all 
expenses,  is  about  thirty-seven  pounds,  which  he 
brought  with  him  and  exhibited  in  Monterey.  I  see 
no  laboring  man  from  the  mines  who  does  not  show 
his  two,  three,  or  four  pounds  of  gold.  A  soldier  of 
the  artillery  company  returned  here  a  few  days  ago 
from  the  mines,  having  been  absent  on  furlough  twenty 
days.  He  made  by  trading  and  working,  during  that 
time,  $1500.  During  these  twenty  days  he  was 
travelling  ten  or  eleven  days,  leaving  but  a  week  in 
which  he  made  a  sum  of  money  greater  than  he  re 
ceives  in  pay,  clothes,  and  rations,  during  a  whole 
enlistment  of  five  years.  These  statements  appear 
incredible,  but  they  are  true. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  51 

"  Gold  is  also  believed  to  exist  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada  ;  and  when  at  the  mines,  I  was 
informed  by  an  intelligent  Mormon  that  it  had  been 
found  near  the  Great  Salt  Lake  by  some  of  his  frater 
nity.  Nearly  all  the  Mormons  are  leaving  California 
to  go  to  the  Salt  Lake,  and  this  they  surely  would  not 
do  unless  they  were  sure  of  finding  gold  there  in  the 
same  abundance  as  they  now  do  on  the  Sacramento. 

"  The  gold  *  placer'  near  the  mission  of  San  Fer 
nando  has  long  been  known,  but  has  been  little  wrought 
for  want  of  water.  This  is  a  spur  which  puts  off  from 
the  Sierra  Nevada  (see  Fremont's  map,)  the  same  in 
which  the  present  mines  occur.  There  is,  therefore, 
every  reason  to  believe,  that  in  the  intervening  spaces, 
of  five  hundred  miles  (entirely  unexplored)  there  must 
be  many  hidden  and  rich  deposits.  The  4  placer'  gold 
is  now  substituted  as  the  currency  of  this  country;  in 
trade  it  passes  freely  at  $16  per  ounce ;  as  an  article 
of  commerce  its  value  is  not  yet  fixed.  The  only 
purchase  I  made  was  of  the  specimen  No.  7,  which  I 
got  of  Mr.  Neligh  at  $12  the  ounce.  That  is  about 
the  present  cash  value  in  the  country,  although  it  has 
been  sold  for  less.  The  great  demand  for  goods  and 
provisions,  made  by  this  sudden  development  of  wealth, 
has  increased  the  amount  of  commerce  at  San  Fran 
cisco  very  much,  and  it  will  continue  to  increase." 

The  Californian,  published  at  San  Francisco  on  the 
14th  of  August,  furnishes  the  following  interesting 
account  of  the  Gold  Region  : 

"  It  was  our  intention  to  present  our  readers  with  a 
description  of  the  extensive  gold,  silver,  and  iron  mines, 
recently  discovered  in  the  Sierra  Nevada,  together 
with  some  other  important  items,  for  the  good  of  the 
people,  but  we  are  compelled  to  defer  it  for  a  future 


52  HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 

number.  Our  prices  current,  many  valuable  commu 
nications,  our  marine  journal,  and  other  important 
matters,  have  also  been  crowded  out.  But  to  enable 
our  distant  readers  to  draw  some  idea  of  the  extent 
of  the  gold  mine,  we  will  confine  our  remarks  to  a  few 
facts.  The  country  from  the  Ajuba  to  the  San  Joaquin 
rivers,  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles,  and  from  the  base  toward  the  summit  of  the 
mountains,  as  far  as  Snow  Hill,  about  seventy  miles, 
has  been  explored,  and  gold  found  on  every  part. 
There  are  now  probably  3000  people,  including  Indians, 
engaged  collecting  gold.  The  amount  collected  by 
each  man  who  works,  ranges  from  $10  to  $850  per 
day.  The  publisher  of  this  paper,  while  on  a  tour 
alone  to  the  mining  district,  collected,  with  the  aid 
of  a  shovel,  pick  and  tin  pan,  about  twenty  inches  in 
diameter,  from  $44  to  $128  a  day — averaging  $100. 
The  gross  amount  collected  will  probably  exceed 
$600,000,  of  which  amount  our  merchants  have  re 
ceived  about  $250,000  worth  for  goods  sold  ;  all  within 
the  short  space  of  eight  weeks.  The  largest  piece  of 
gold  known  to  be  found  weighed  four  pounds. 

"  Labor  has  ever  been  high  in  California,  but  pre 
vious  to  the  discovery  of  the  placera  gold,  the  rates 
ranged  from  $1  to  $3  per  day.  Since  that  epoch 
common  labor  cannot  be  obtained,  and  if  to  be  had, 
for  no  less  price  than  fifty  cents  per  hour,  and  that  the 
most  common.  Carpenters  and  other  mechanics  have 
been  offered  $15  a  day,  but  it  has  been  flatly  refused. 
Many  of  our  enterprising  citizens  were  largely  engaged 
in  building,  and  others  wish  to  commence  on  dwellings, 
warehouses,  and  the  like,  but  all  have  had  to  suspend 
for  the  laclt  of  that  all  important  class  of  community, 
the  working  men." 


HISTOHY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


53 


The  following  extracts  from  the  published  journal 
of  a  physician  in  California,  give  accounts  of  the  recep 
tion  of  the  news  of  the  gold  discovery  in  San  Fran 
cisco,  with  its  consequent  effects. 

"  May  8th. — Captain  Fulsom  called  at  Sweeting's 
to-day.  He  had  seen  a  man  this  morning,  who  reported 
that  he  had  just  come  from  a  river  called  the  American 
Fork,  about  one  hundred  miles  in  the  interior,  where 
he  had  been  gold  washing.  Captain  Fulsom  saw  the 
gold  he  had  with  him ;  it  was  about  twenty-three 
ounces  weight,  and  in  small  flakes.  The  man  stated 
that  he  was  eight  days  getting  it,  but  Captain  Fulsom 
hardly  believed  this.  He  says  that  he  saw  some  of 
this  gold  a  few  weeks  since,  and  thought  it  was  only 
6  mica,'  but  good  judges  have  pronounced  it  to  be 
genuine  metal.  He  talks,  however,  of  paying  a  visit 
to  the  place  where  it  is  reported  to  come  from.  After 
he  was  gone,  Bradley  stated  that  the  Sacramento 
settlements,  which  Malcolm  wished  to  visit,  were  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  American  Fork,  and  that  we 
might  go  there  together  ;  he  thought  the  distance  was 
only  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles. 

"  May  10th. — Yesterday  and  to-day  nothing  has 
been  talked  of  but  the  new  gold  <  placer,'  as  people 
call  it.  It  seems  that  four  other  men  had  accompanied 
the  person  Captain  Fulsom  saw  yesterday,  and  that 
they  had  each  realized  a  large  quantity  of  gold.  They 
left  the  '  diggings'  on  the  American  Fork,  (which  it 
seems  is  the  Rio  de  los  Americanos,  a  tributary  to  the 
Sacramento)  about  a  week  ago,  and  stopped  a  day  or 
two  at  Sutter's  Fort,  a  few  miles  this  side  of  the  dig 
gings,  on  their  way  ;  from  there  they  had  travelled 
by  boat  to  San  Francisco.  The  gold  they  brought 
has  been  examined  by  the  first  Alcalde  here,  and  by 


54  HISTOKY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

all  the  merchants  in  the  place.  Bradley  showed  us  a 
lump  weighing  a  quarter  of  an  ounce,  which  he  had 
bought  of  one  of  the  men,  and  for  which  he  gave  him 
three  dollars  and  a  half.  I  have  no  doubt  in  my  own 
mind  about  its  being  genuine  gold.  Several  parties, 
we  hear,  are  already  made  up  to  visit  the  diggings  ; 
and,  according  to  the  newspaper  here,  a  number  of 
people  have  actually  started  off  with  shovels,  mattocks, 
and  pans,  to  dig  the  gold  themselves.  It  is  not  likely, 
however,  that  this  will  be  allowed,  for  Captain  Fulsom 
has  already  written  to  Colonel  Mason  about  taking 
possession  of  the  mine  on  behalf  of  the  government, 
it  being,  as  he  says,  on  public  land. 

"  May  Vlih. — This  place  is  now  in  a  perfect  furor  of 
excitement ;  all  the  work-people  have  struck.  Walking 
through  the  town  to-day,  I  observed  that  laborers 
were  employed  only  upon  about  half-a-dozen  of  the 
fifty  new  buildings  which  were  in  the  course  of  being 
run  up.  The  majority  of  the  mechanics  at  this  place 
are  making  preparations  for  moving  off  to  the  mines, 
and  several  hundred  people  of  all  classes — lawyers, 
store-keepers,  merchants,  &c., — are  bitten  with  the 
fever ;  in  fact,  there  is  a  regular  gold  mania  springing 
up.  I  counted  no  less  than  eighteen  houses  which  were 
closed,  the  owners  having  left." 

The  mania  continued  to  increase,  and  within  a  few 
months  all  the  principal  towns  were  nearly  emptied 
of  their  population.  Gold  was  the  universal  object, 
and  splendid  and  rapid  fortune  the  universal  hope. 
No  occupation  seemed  to  offer  such  a  prospect  as  that 
of  digging  gold,  and,  accordingly,  those  who  were  not 
able  to  bear  the  fatigues  of  such  work,  or  were  at  the 
head  of  any  sort  of  business  in  the  different  towns,  had 
to  pay  enormous  prices  for  the  labor  of  subordinates 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


55 


who  performed  the  meanest  services.  The  prices  of 
all  agricultural  and  manufactured  products  became 
treble  the  previous  rates. 

Soon  came  the  first  waves  of  the  tide  of  emigration 
that  was  to  flood  the  placers  of  the  gold  region.  The 
first  influx  CDnsisted  of  Mexicans  of  the  province  of 
Sonoma,  Chilians,  and  some  few  Chinese.  These, 
principally  took  possession  of  the  southern  mines,  or 
those  on  the  San  Joaquin  and  its  tributaries.  Some 
few  stopped  at  San  Francisco,  and  secured  lots  of 
ground  which  they  knew  would  become  very  valuable 
in  a  short  time,  and  erected  temporary  stores  and 
dwellings.  This  gave  the  impulse  to  the  progress  of 
the  town,  and  it  soon  advanced  rapidly  in  size  and 
population.  Then  came  the  emigration  from  the 
Atlantic  States  of  the  Union,  and  the  whole  territory 
felt  the  progressive  and  enterprising  spirit  of  the  gold- 
seekers.  The  Americans  generally  took  possession 
of  the  mines  upon  the  northern  tributaries  of  the 
Sacramento  River ;  but  as  their  numbers  increased 
they  pushed  towards  the  southern  mines,  and  frequent 
collisions  with  the  foreigners  were  the  consequence. 
Finally,  a  great  number  of  the  latter  were  compelled 
to  leave  the  country. 


56  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


CONNECTED  WITH  MINING. 

THE  adventures  of  the  eager  gold-seekers  in  the 
region  of  their  hopes,  among  the  washings  and  the 
diggings  of  the  placers,  cannot  but  be  interesting. 
The  toil  to  which  the  men  have  to  submit  if  they  would 
obtain  any  thing  like  a  satisfaction  to  their  desires,  is 
of  a  very  irksome  character.  In  the  summer  season, 
the  heat  is  intense,  and  the  principal  part  of  the  labor 
of  washing  and  digging  must  be  performed  exposed  to 
the  full  blaze  of  the  sun.  In  the  "  dry  diggings," 
the  miners  suffer  greatly  from  the  want  of  water. 
Most  of  the  provisions  having  to  be  transported  from 
the  towns  on  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin,  soon 
grow  unwholesome  from  exposure  to  the  sultry  air  of 
the  day  and  the  damp  air  of  the  night.  This  diet, 
conjointly  with  the  exposure  of  the  miners,  tends  to 
produce  intermittent  fever  and  dysentery.  The  miners 
generally  reside  in  huts  of  a  rude  construction,  or  in 
canvas  tents,  which  afford  but  poor  protection  from 
the  changes  of  the  weather. 

The  most  prominent  man  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  "  diggins,"  is  Captain  Sutter,  the  Daniel  Boone 
of  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was  formerly  an 
officer  in  the  Swiss  guards  of  Charles  X.  of  France. 
After  the  revolution  of  1830,  in  that  country,  he  camo 
to  the  United  States.  Emigrating  to  California,  he 
obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  the  Mexican  govern- 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


57 


ment,  and  founded  the  settlement  known  as  Slitter's 
Fort.  Upon  his  land,  the  first  discovery  of  the  rich 
ness  of  the  soil  was  made,  and  his  house  and  the 
settlement  around  it  has  been,  ever  since,  the  resort 
of  persons  going  to  and  from  the  placers,  and  a  depot 
for  provisions  ^nd  articles  used  by  the  miners.  Stores 
and  workshops  have  been  established,  and  a  consider 
able  amount  of  business  is  transacted  there.  Captain 
Sutter  is  held  in  very  great  respect  by  the  people  of 
the  settlement  and  those  stopping  at  his  house  on  the 
road  to  the  placers.  Several  versions  of  the  account 
of  the  discovery  of  the  gold  mines  have  been  circu 
lated,  but  the  true  one,  in  the  Captain's  own  words, 
is  given  in  a  work  recently  published.*  The  account 
is  here  inserted,  both  on  account  of  the  interest  con 
nected  with  the  discovery,  and  in  order  to  correct 
wrong  versions  of  the  matter. 

"I  was  sitting  one  afternoon,"  said  the  Captain, 
"just  after  my  siesta,  engaged,  by-the-bye,  in  writing 
a  letter  to  a  relation  of  mine  at  Lucerne,  when  I  was 
interrupted  by  Mr.  Marshall — a  gentleman  with  whom 
I  had  frequent  business  transactions — bursting  hur 
riedly  into  the  room.  From  the  unusual  agitation  in 
his  manner,  I  imagined  that  something  serious  had 
occurred,  and,  as  we  involuntarily  do  in  this  part  of 
the  world,  I  at  once  glanced  to  see  if  my  rifle  was  in 
its  proper  place.  You  should  know  that  the  mere 
appearance  of  Mr.  Marshall  at  that  moment  in  the 
fort  was  quite  enough  to  surprise  me,  as  he  had  but 
two  days  before  left  the  place  to  make  some  altera 
tions  in  a  mill  for  sawing  pine  planks,  which  he  had 
just  run  up  for  me,  some  miles  higher  up  the  Ameri- 

*  Four  Months  Among  the  Gold  Finders  of  California,  by  J.  Tyr- 
whit  Brooks,  M.  D. 


58  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

canos.  When  he  had  recovered  himself  a  little,  he 
told  me  that,  however  great  my  surprise  might  be  at 
his  unexpected  reappearance,  it  would  be  much  greater 
when  I  heard  the  intelligence  he  had  come  to  bring 
me.  i Intelligence,'  he  added,  'which,  if  properly 
profited  by,  would  put  both  of  us  in  possession  of  un 
heard-of  wealth — millions  and  millions  of  dollars,  in 
fact.'  I  frankly  own,  when  I  heard  this,  that  I  thought 
something  had  touched  Marshall's  brain,  when  sud 
denly  all  my  misgivings  were  put  an  end  to  by  his 
flinging  on  the  table  a  handful  of  scales  of  pure  virgin 
gold.  I  was  fairly  thunderstruck,  and  asked  him  to 
explain  what  all  this  meant,  when  he  went  on  to  say, 
that,  according  to  my  instructions,  he  had  thrown  the 
mill-wheel  out  of  gear,  to  let  the  whole  body  of  the  water 
in  the  dam  find  a  passage  through  the  tail-race,  which 
was  previously  too  narrow  to  allow  the  water  to  run 
off  in  sufficient  quantity,  whereby  the  wheel  was  pre 
vented  from  efficiently  performing  its  work.  By  this 
alteration  the  narrow  channel  was  considerably  en 
larged,  and  a  mass  of  sand  and  gravel  carried  off  by 
the  force  of  the  torrent.  Early  in  the  morning  after 
this  took  place,  he  (Mr.  Marshall)  was  walking  along 
the  left  bank  of  the  stream,  when  he  perceived  some 
thing  which  he  at  first  took  for  a  piece  of  opal — a 
clear  transparent  stone,  very  common  here — glittering 
on  one  of  the  spots  laid  bare  by  the  sudden  crumbling 
away  of  the  bank.  lie  paid  no  attention  to  this  ;  but 
while  he  was  giving  directions  to  the  workmen,  having 
observed  several  similar  glittering  fragments,  his 
curiosity  was  so  far  excited,  that  he  stooped  down  and 
picked  one  of  them  up.  'Do  you  know,'  said  Mr. 
Marshall  to  me,  *  I  positively  debated  within  myself 
two  or  three  times  whether  I  should  take  the  trouble 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  59 

to  bend  my  back  to  pick  up  one  of  the  pieces,  and  had 
decided  on  not  doing  so,  when,  further  on,  another 
glittering  morsel  caught  my  eye — the  largest  of  the 
pieces  now  before  you.  I  condescended  to  pick  it  up, 
and  to  my  astonishment  found  that  it  was  a  thin  scale 
of  what  appears  to  be  pure  gold.'  He  then  gathered 
some  twenty  or  thirty  similar  pieces,  which  on  exami 
nation  convinced  him  that  his  suppositions  were  right. 
His  first  impression  was,  that  this  gold  had  been  lost 
or  buried  there  by  some  early  Indian  tribe — perhaps 
some  of  those  mysterious  inhabitants  of  the  West,  of 
whom  we  have  no  account,  but  who  dwelt  on  this  con 
tinent  centuries  ago,  and  built  those  cities  and  tem 
ples,  the  ruins  of  which  are  scattered  about  these 
solitary  wilds.  On  proceeding,  however,  to  examine 
the  neighboring  soil,  he  discovered  that  it  was  more  or 
less  auriferous.  This  at  once  decided  him.  He  mounted 
his  horse,  and  rode  down  to  me  as  fast  as  it  would 
carry  him,  with  the  news. 

"At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Marshall's  account," 
continued  Captain  Sutler,  "and  when  I  had  convinced 
myself,  from  the  specimens  he  had  brought  with  him, 
that  it  was  not  exaggerated,  I  felt  as  much  excited  as 
himself.  I  eagerly  inquired  if  he  had  shown  the  gold 
to  the  work-people  at  the  mill,  and  was  glad  to  hear 
that  he  had  not  spoken  to  a  single  person  about  it. 
We  agreed,"  said  the  Captain,  smiling,  "  not  to  men 
tion  the  circumstance  to  any  one,  and  arranged  to  set 
off  early  the  next  day  for  the  mill.  On  our  arrival, 
just  before  sundown,  we  poked  the  sand  about  in 
various  places,  and  before  long  succeeded  in  collecting 
between  us,  more  than  an  ounce  of  gold,  mixed  up 
with  a  good  deal  of  sand.  I  stayed  at  Mr.  Marshall's 
that  night,  and  the  next  day  we  proceeded  some  little 


60  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

distance  up  the  South  Fork,  and  found  that  gold 
existed  along  the  whole  course,  not  only  in  the  bed  of 
the  main  stream,  where  the  water  had  subsided,  but 
in  every  little  dried-up  creek  and  ravine.  Indeed,  I 
think  it  is  more  plentiful  in  the^e  latter  places,  for  I 
myself,  with  nothing  more  than  a  small  knife,  picked 
out  from  a  dry  gorge,  a  little  way  up  the  mountain,  a 
solid  lump  of  gold  which  weighed  nearly  an  ounce  and 
a  half. 

"  On  our  return  to  the  mill,  we  were  astonished  by 
the  work-people  coming  up  to  us  in  a  body,  and  show 
ing  us  small  flakes  of  gold  similar  to  those  we  had 
ourselves  procured.  Marshall  tried  to  laugh  the  mat 
ter  off  with  them,  and  to  persuade  them  that  what  they 
had  found  was  only  some  shining  mineral  of  trifling 
value  ;  but  one  of  the  Indians,  who  had  worked  at  the 
gold  mine  in  the  neighborhood  of  La  Paz,  in  Lower 
California,  cried  out,  l  Oro  !  oro  !'  We  were  disap 
pointed  enough  at  this  discovery,  and  supposed  that 
the  work-people  had  been  watching  our  movements, 
although  we  thought  we  had  taken  every  precaution 
against  being  observed  by  them.  I  heard,  afterwards, 
that  one  of  them,  a  sly  Kentuckian,  had  dogged  us 
about,  and  that,  looking  on  the  ground  to  see  if  he 
could  discover  what  we  were  in  search  of,  he  had 
lighted  on  some  flakes  of  gold  himself. 

"  The  next  day  I  rode  back  to  the  Fort,  organized 
a  laboring  party,  set  the  carpenters  to  work  on  a  few 
necessary  matters,  and  the  next  day,  accompanied 
them  to  a  point  of  the  Fork,  where  they  encamped 
for  the  night.  By  the  following  morning  I  had  a 
party  of  fifty  Indians  fairly  at  work.  The  way  we 
first  managed  was  to  shovel  the  soil  into  small  buckets, 
or  into  some  of  our  famous  Indian  baskets  ;  then  wash 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


61 


all  the  light  earth  out,  and  pick  away  the  stones ; 
after  this,  we  dried  the  sand  on  pieces  of  canvas,  and 
with  long  reeds  blew  away  all  but  the  gold.  I  have 
now  some  rude  machines  in  use,  and  upwards  of  one 
hundred  men  employed,  chiefly  Indians,  who  are  well 
fed,  and  who  are  allowed  whisky  three  times  a  day. 

"  The  report  soon  spread.  Some  of  the  gold  was 
sent  to  San  Francisco,  and  crowds  of  people  flocked 
to  the  diggings.  Added  to  this,  a  large  emigrant 
party  of  Mormons  entered  California  across  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  just  as  the  aft'air  was  first  made  known. 
They  halted  at  once,  and  set  to  work  on  a  spot  some 
thirty  miles  from  here,  where  a  few  of  them  still  re 
main.  When  I  was  last  up  to  the  diggings,  there  were 
full  eight  hundred  men  at  work,  at  one  place  and 
another,  with  perhaps  something  like  three  hundred 
more  passing  backwards  and  forwards  between  here 
and  the  mines.  I  at  first  imagined  that  the  gold 
would  soon  be  exhausted  by  such  crowds  of  seekers, 
but  subsequent  observations  have  convinced  me  that  it 
will  take  many  years  to  bring  about  such  a  result, 
even  with  ten  times  the  present  number  of  people 
employed. 

"What  surprises  me,"  continued  the  Captain,  "is, 
that  this  country  should  have  been  visited  by  so  many 
scientific  men,  and  that  not  one  of  them  should  have 
ever  stumbled  upon  the  treasures ;  that  scores  of 
keen-eyed  trappers  should  have  crossed  this  valley  in 
every  direction,  and  tribes  of  Indians  have  dwelt  in  it 
for  centuries,  and  yet  that  this  gold  should  have  never 
been  discovered.  I  myself  have  passed  the  very  spot 
above  a  hundred  times  during  the  last  ten  years,  but 
was  just  as  blind  as  the  rest  of  them,  so  I  must  not 
wonder  at  the  discovery  not  having  been  made  earlier." 

6 


62  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

The  plan  of  operations  adopted  by  most  of  the 
miners  who  were  not  Indians  or  Californians,  was  to 
form  bands  of  three,  five  or  ten,  under  the  command 
of  one  of  the  number,  whose  name  the  party  took,  and 
by  which  it  was  afterwards  known.  Some  larger 
companies  were  formed  in  the  United  States,  and 
repaired  to  California,  and  their  operations  were  of 
course,  on  a  more  extensive  scale ;  they  having  all 
the  necessary  equipments  of  gold-washers  and  miners. 
Written  rules  were  generally  drawn  up  for  the  govern 
ment  of  the  parties,  varying  in  particulars  according 
to  the  peculiar  views  of  the  framers.  These  rules 
provided  for  the  modus  operandi  of  procuring  the 
gold,  supplying  the  party  with  necessaries,  attending 
to  the  sick,  and  the  division  of  the  fruits  of  their  labor. 

One  of  the  most  frequented  placers  of  California  is 
called  the  Stanislaus  mine,  situated  near  the  Stanis 
laus  River.  It  was  one  of  the  first  places  worked  to 
any  extent  by  the  gold-seekers,  but  not  satisfying  the 
expectations  of  some  of  the  most  greedy,  it  has  since 
been  partially  abandoned.  A  description  of  this  mine, 
and  of  the  living  and  operations  of  its  workers  in  the 
winter  of  1848-49,  will  give  a  good  general  idea  of  the 
toils  and  privations  endured  by  the  early  gold-seekers  in 
that  region,  and,  also,  of  their  mode  of  procuring  the 
precious  metal  at  most  of  the  mines.  We  extract 
from  a  recently  published  work,  distinguished  for 
minuteness  of  detail  and  accuracy  of  description.* 

"  The  mine  was  a  deep  ravine,  embosomed  amidst 
lofty  hills,  surmounted  by,  and  covered  with  pine,  and 
having,  in  the  bottom  itself,  abundance  of  rock,  mud, 
and  sand.  Halliday  and  I  encamped  at  the  very 

*  Personal  Adventures  in  Upper  and  Lower  California,  by  William 
Redmond  Ryan. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


63 


lowest  part  of  the  ravine,  at  a  little  distance  from  Don 
Emanuel's  party  ;  a  steep  rock  which  towered  above 
our  heads  affording  us  shelter,  and  a  huge,  flat  stone 
beneath  our  feet  promising  a  fair  substitute  for  a  dry 
bed.  Here  then  we  stretched  our  macheers  and 
blankets,  and  arranged  our  saddles  and  bags,  so  as  to 
make  ourselves  as  comfortable  and  warm  as  possible, 
although,  in  spite  of  our  precautions  and  contrivances, 
and  of  a  tolerably  good  fire,  our  encampment  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  we  lay  exposed  to  a  heavy  dew. 
We  had  given  up  our  horses  into  the  charge  of  the 
Indians,  and  I  saw  to  their  being  safely  placed  in  the 
cavallardj  whilst  Halliday  went  to  chop  wood ;  a  task 
I  was  too  weak  to  perform.  I  cannot  say  we  slept ; 
we  might  more  correctly  be  said  to  have  had  a  long 
and  most  uncomfortable  doze,  and  when  morning 
broke,  we  were  shivering  with  cold,  and  shook  the 
dew  in  a  shower  from  our  clothes.  I  consulted  with 
my  companion,  and  urged  upon  him  the  prudence  of 
our  setting  to  work  to  construct  ourselves  a  sort  of  log 
cabin ;  otherwise  I  felt  certain,  from  the  experience 
of  the  past  night,  our  sojourn  at  the  mines  would  be 
likely  to  prove  fatal  to  one  or  both  of  us.  He  was, 
however,  far  too  eager  to  try  his  fortune  at  digging 
to  listen  to  my  proposal,  at  which  he  even  smiled, 
probably  at  the  bare  idea  of  weather,  privation,  or 
toil,  being  able  to  affect  his  powerful  frame.  I  saw 
him  presently  depart  up  the  ravine,  shouldering  a  pick, 
and  glancing  now  and  then  at  his  knife,  whilst  I  pro 
ceeded  in  search  of  materials  for  constructing  a  tem 
porary  place  of  shelter. 

"  As  my  strength  was  unequal  to  the  task  of  felling 
timber,  I  endeavored  to  procure  four  poles,  intending 
to  sink  them  into  the  ground,  and  to  stretch  on  the 


64  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

top  of  them  a  bed-tick  I  had  reserved  for  the  purpose. 
The  contrivance  was  a  sorry  one  at  the  best,  but 
shelter  was  indispensable;  and  great  was  my  disap 
pointment — though  I  procured  the  timber  after  a  pain 
ful  search — to  find  that  the  rocks  presented  an  insu 
perable  obstacle  to  my  employing  it  as  I  intended. 
My  efforts  to  sink  the  poles  proved  utterly  futile,  and 
I  was  at  last  compelled  to  renounce  the  attempt  in 
despair.  I  then  packed  up  our  goods  into  as  close  a 
compass  as  possible  ;  and,  having  requested  one  of 
the  Spaniards  in  Don  Emanuel's  party  to  keep  watch 
over  them,  departed  to  explore  the  ravine. 

"  Within  a  few  paces  of  our  encampment  there  was 
a  large  area  of  ground,  probably  half  a  mile  square, 
the  surface  of  which  consisted  of  dark  soil  and  slate, 
and  was  indented  with  innumerable  holes  of  every 
possible  dimension,  from  six  inches  to  as  many  feet  or 
more,  wide  and  deep.  In  all  of  these  lay  abundance 
of  water,  of  which  large  quantities  are  to  be  found  a 
little  beneath  the  surface,  the  ravine  being  supplied 
with  it  in  great  abundance  by  the  rains  that  pour 
down  from  the  hills  during  the  wet  season.  To  the 
extreme  right  of  our  camp,  the  ground  assumed  a 
more  rocky  character  ;  and,  from  the  vast  deposit  of 
stagnant  water,  did  not  seem  to  offer  many  attractions 
to  the  miners.  Yet  there  was  scarcely  a  spot  in  any 
of  these  places  where  the  crow-bar,  the  pick,  or  the 
jack-knife,  had  not  been  busy:  evidence  that  the 
whole  locality  must  have  been  extremely  rich  in  the 
precious  metal,  or  it  would  not  have  been  so  thoroughly 
worked. 

"  In  crossing  the  ravine,  I  was  obliged  to  leap  from 
one  mound  of  earth  to  another,  to  avoid  plunging 
ancle-deep  in  mud  and  water.  It  was  wholly  deserted 


LIFE    AT    THE    "DIGGINGS," SUPPER   TIME. 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFOKNIA. 


65 


in  this  part,  though  formerly  so  much  frequented ;  and, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  traders,  who,  having  taken 
up  their  station  here  when  times  were  good,  had  not 
yet  made  arrangements  for  removing  to  a  more  pro 
ductive  place,  not  a  soul  was  to  be  seen. 

"  I  walked  on  until  I  reached  the  trading-post  of 
Mr.  Anderson,  formerly  our  interpreter  in  the  Lower 
Country,  whom  I  felt  delighted  to  meet  with  again. 
His  shed  was  situated  in  one  of  the  dampest  parts  of 
the  mine,  and  consisted  of  a  few  upright  poles,  tra 
versed  by  cross-pieces,  and  covered  in  with  raw  hides 
and  leaves,  but  yet  much  exposed  at  the  sides  to  the 
wind  and  the  weather.  He  had  a  few  barrels  of  flour 
and  biscuit,  which  he  retailed  at  two  dollars  a  pound ; 
for  he  made  no  difference  between  the  price  of  the 
raw  and  the  prepared  material.  The  flour  would  go 
further,  it  was  true  ;  but  then  the  biscuit  required  no 
cooking  on  the  part  of  the  miner,  whose  time  was 
literally  money,  and  whose  interest  therefore  it  was  to 
economize  it  in  every  possible  manner.  .  He  also  sold 
unprepared  coffee  and  sugar  at  six  Yankee  shillings  a 
pound ;  dried  beef  at  one  dollar  and  a  half ;  and 
pork,  which  was  regarded  as  a  great  delicacy  here,  at 
two  dollars  for  the  same  weight.  The  various  articles 
of  which  his  stock-in-trade  consisted  he  had  brought 
all  the  way  from  Monterey  at  considerable  labor  and 
expense ;  but,  by  the  exercise  of  extraordinary  tact, 
perseverance,  and  industry,  he  had  succeeded  in  esta 
blishing  a  flourishing  business. 

"  I  discovered,  however,  that  he  possessed  another 
resource — by  which  his  gains  were  marvellously  in 
creased — in  the  services  of  seven  or  eight  Indians, 
whom  he  kept  constantly  at  work,  in  the  rear  of  his 
shed,  digging  gold,  and  whose  labor  he  remunerated 
6* 


66  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

with  provisions,  and  occasional  presents  of  articles  of 
trifling  value  to  him,  but  highly  esteemed  by  the 
Indians.  They  were  watched  by  an  American  over 
seer,  who  was  employed  by  him,  to  assist  in  the  general 
business,  particularly  in  slaughtering;  for,  as  beef 
was  scarce,  he  used  to  send  his  man  in  quest  of  cows 
and  oxen ;  which  he  killed,  cut  up,  salted  and  dried, 
in  his  shed,  and  watching  the  most  favorable  moment 
for  the  operation — namely,  when  meat  could  not  bo 
procured  at  the  '  diggins' — never  failed  to  realize  his 
own  price  for  it. 

"  Proceeding  higher  up  the  ravine,  I  observed  a 
large  tent  erected  on  the  slope  of  a  hill,  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  bottom,  where  the  gold  is  usually  found. 
It  was  surrounded  by  a  trench,  the  clay  from  which, 
as  it  was  dug  up,  had  apparently  been  thrown  out 
against  the  canvas,  forming  a  kind  of  embankment, 
rendering  it  at  once  water  and  weather-proof.  I  ven 
tured  into  it,  encountering  on  my  way  an  immense 
piece  of  raw  beef,  suspended  from  the  ridge-pole. 
Upon  some  stones  in  front,  inclosing  a  small  fire,  stood 
a  frying-pan,  filled  with  rich  looking  beef  collops, 
that  set  my  mouth  watering,  and  severely  tested  my 
honesty ;  for,  although  acorns  are  all  very  well  in 
their  way,  and  serve  to  stay  the  cravings  of  the 
stomach  for  awhile,  I  did  not  find  my  appetite  any  the 
less  sharp,  notwithstanding  the  quantity  I  had  eaten. 
But  I  resisted  the  temptation,  and  penetrated  further 
into  the  tent.  At  one  side  of  it  lay  a  crow-bar,  and 
an  old  saddle  that  had  seen  rough  service ;  yet  not  a 
soul  appeared,  and  my  eyes  were  again  ogling  the 
collops,  whilst  an  inward  voice  whispered  how  impru 
dent  it  was  to  leave  them  frizzling  there,  when,  all  at 
once,  a  little  man,  in  a  <  hickory  shirt,'  with  his  face 


-f 


80NOBIAN8   DRY-WASHING   GOLD. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


67 


all  bedaubed  with  pot-black  and  grease,  darted  out  of 
some  dark  corner,  flourishing  in  one  hand  a  long  bowie 
knife,  and  in  the  other  three  by  no  means  delicate 
slices  of  fat  pork,  which  he  at  once  dropped  into  the 
frying-pan,  stooping  down  on  one  knee,  and  becoming 
immediately  absorbed  in  watching  the  interesting 
culinary  process  then  going  on  in  it. 

"  I  came  up  next  with  a  group  of  three  Sonomeans, 
or  inhabitants  of  Sonoma,  busily  engaged  on  a  small 
sandy  flat — the  only  one  I  had  observed — at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  ravine.  There  was  no  water  near,  although 
I  noticed  several  holes  which  had  evidently  been  sunk 
in  quest  of  it.  These  men  were  actively  pursuing  a 
process  that  is  termed  *  dry-washing/  One  was 
shovelling  up  the  sand  into  a  large  cloth,  stretched 
out  upon  the  ground,  and  which,  when  it  was  tolerably 
well  covered,  he  took  up  by  the  corners,  and  shook 
until  the  pebbles  and  larger  particles  of  stone  and  dirt 
came  to  the  surface.  These  he  brushed  away  care 
fully  with  his  hand,  repeating  the  process  of  shaking 
and  clearing  until  the  residue  was  sufficiently  fine  for 
the  next  operation.  This  was  performed  by  the  other 
men,  wrho,  depositing  the  sand  in  large  bowls  hewn 
out  of  a  solid  block  of  wood,  which  they  held  in  their 
hands,  dexterously  cast  the  contents  up  before  them, 
about  four  feet  into  the  air,  catching  the  sand  again 
very  cleverly,  and  blowing  at  it  as  it  descended.  This 
process  being  repeated,  the  sand  gradually  disap 
peared,  and  from  two  to  three  ounces  of  pure  gold 
remained  at  the  bottom  of  the  bowl.  Easy  as  the 
operation  appeared  to  me  to  be,  I  learned,  upon  in 
quiry,  that  to  perform  it  *  successfully  required  the 
nicest  management,  the  greatest  perseverance,  and 
especially  robust  lungs.  The  men  I  saw  had  lighted 


68 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


upon  a  productive  sand  ;  but  very  often,  indeed,  those 
who  adopt  this  mode  of  gold  washing  toil  long  at  bar 
ren  soil  before  they  discover  the  uselessness  of  labor 
ing  thus  arduously. 

"  I  noticed,  that  although  the  largest  proportion  of 
the  gold  obtained  in  this  manner  presented  the  appear 
ance  of  a  fine  powder,  it  was  interspersed,  here  and 
there,  with  large  scales  of  the  precious  deposit,  and 
with  a  few  solid  lumps.  The  metal  was  of  a  dingy 
hue,  and,  at  a  cursory  view,  might  easily  have  been 
mistaken  for  particles  of  yellow  clay,  or  laminae  of 
stone  of  the  same  color.  The  Sonomeans  placed  the 
product  of  their  labor  in  buckskin  bags,  which  were 
hung  around  their  necks,  and  carefully  concealed 
inside  of  their  shirts.  They  work  in  this  fashion  at 
the  mines  in  their  own  country  ;  but  I  doubt  if  any 
other  than  a  native  constitution  could  very  long  bear 
up  against  the  peculiar  labor  of  '  dry-washing'  in  such 
a  climate  and  under  such  difficult  circumstances.  I 
felt  half  tempted  to  try  the  process  myself,  for  the 
surface  of  this  sandy  bed  was  literally  sparkling  with 
innumerable  particles  of  the  finest  gold,  triturated  to 
a  polish  by  the  running  of  the  waters  —  as  I  conjec 
tured  ;  but  I  soon  discovered  how  fruitless  my  efforts 
would  be.  Had  I  possessed  any  chemical  agents  at 
hand,  however,  I  might  soon  have  exhausted  the  bed 
of  its  precious  contents,  and  should,  doubtless,  have 
realized  an  immense  weight  of  the  metal  of  the  very 
purest  quality. 

"  I  may  as  well  mention  here,  that  of  the  various 
new  machines  manufactured  and  sent  out  to  Califor 
nia  for  the  purpose  of  digging  and  washing  gold,  the 
great  majority  have  been  found  quite  useless.  There 
are  two  or  three  of  them,  however,  that  have  been 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


69 


employed  with  great  success.  I  have  made  a  sketch 
of  those  most  in  use  amongst  the  diggers,  as  my 
readers  may  feel  desirous  of  acquainting  themselves 
with  the  latest  improvements  introduced  in  the  art  of 
mining,  as  practised  in  this  country.  They  consist, 
in  the  first  place,  of  the  washing-rocker,  or  i  cradle/ 
which  has,  in  numerous  instances,  formed  the  model 
for  ruder  machines,  constructed  by  the  miners  them 
selves,  whilst  in  the  mountains.  The  lid,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  lie  the  holes  through  which  the  gold  and  soil 
pass,  is  fastened  by  hinges  at  the  back,  in  order  that 
it  may  be  raised  up,  the  more  readily  to  throw  off, 
from  time  to  time,  the  stones  that  accumulate.  Three 
men  are  required  to  work  this  rocker  with  success, 
and  there  are  few  processes  in  which  a  smaller  num 
ber  could  operate  without  extraordinary  labor.  One 
person  throws  the  soil  upon  the  lid,  another  pours  on 
the  water,  whilst  a  third  is  engaged  in  rocking  the 
cradle  by  the  handle  attached  to  it  for  the  purpose. 
In  this  way  these  men  keep  each  other  constantly 
employed ;  and,  indeed,  this  cradle,  like  its  prototype, 
has  often  proved  the  bond  of  union  between  individuals 
who  would  otherwise  have  separated,  for  this  simple 
reason,  that  one  man  could  not  work  it  half  so  profit 
ably  alone.  The  cross  pieces,  observable  at  the  bot 
tom,  serve  to  intercept  the  gold  as  it  flows  towards 
the  smaller  end  of  the  machine,  whilst  the  dirt  is 
carried  off  by  the  admixture  with  the  water  produced 
by  the  continual  'rocking.'  As  the  earth  becomes 
thoroughly  dissolved,  the  gold  naturally  gravitates  to 
the  bottom ;  and  thus  it  is  impossible  for  any  but  the 
very  finest  particles  of  the  ore  to  escape. 

"  The  second  machine,  in  importance,  is  the  gold- 
borer.     It  is   particularly  useful   in    examining   the 


70  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

bottom  of  streams,  and  consists  of  a  short  conical 
cylinder  at  the  end  of  a  long  handle,  containing  inside, 
at  its  lower  extremity,  a  valve,  arranged  so  as  to 
admit  the  earth  and  gold,  and  prevent  their  escaping 
when  the  receptacle  is  full.  This  instrument  is  used 
in  the  same  manner  as  an  augur.  The  third  machine, 
the  pan,  is  also  of  late  introduction,  but  has  been 
found  rather  too  deep  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is 
intended. 

"Notwithstanding  the  success  which  seemed  to 
attend  the  labors  of  the  Sonomeans,  I  subsequently 
discovered  that  the  entire  quanity  of  gold  thus  painfully 
obtained,  disappeared  at  the  gambling-stalls.  They 
were  generally  clad  most  wretchedly,  many  of  them 
wearing  nothing  more  than  a  dirty  shirt,  a  pair  of 
light  pantaloons,  and  the  wide  sombrero  peculiar  to  the 
inhabitants  of  this  country  and  Mexico.  Some  few 
sported  a  serapa,  but  they  were  men  of  superior  native 
rank,  of  which  this  garment  is  a  distinctive  character 
istic. 

"  Continuing  my  route  up  the  ravine,  I  met  a  man 
named  Corrigan,  galloping  along  with  two  fine  horses, 
one  of  which  he  was  leading.  He  stopped  as  soon  as 
he  recognized  me,  and  we  were  soon  engaged  in  a  very 
interesting  conversation  respecting  the  doings  at  the 
'diggins.'  The  substance  of  his  information  was,  that 
he  had  made  a  great  deal  of  money  at  the  mines  by 
digging,  but  infinitely  more  by  speculation.  He  thought 
of  buying  a  ranch£,  marrying,  and  settling  down.  He 
was  then  going  to  seek  for  pasture  for  his  horses  ; 
and,  bidding  me  a  hasty  good-bye,  galloped  off,  and 
soon  disappeared. 

"  As  I  advanced,  the  ground  became  drier  and  more 
eandy,  rock  and  slate  of  various  kinds  abounding; 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


71 


some  quite  soft  and  friable,  yielding  readily  to  the 
pickaxe  or  the  crowbar ;  and,  in  other  places,  so  hard 
as  to  resist  the  utmost  strength  of  the  miners.  Several 
of  the  diggers  were  persevcringly  exploring  the  locali 
ties  where  the  rotten  sorts  of  slate  were  found  in  the 
largest  quantities,  and  I  saw  them  pick  out  a  good 
deal  of  gold  with  their  jack-knives.  Their  principal 
aim  was  to  discover  what  they  termed  'a  pocket,' 
which  is  nothing  more  than  a  crevice  between  the 
blocks  of  slate,  into  which  a  deposit  of  gold  has  been 
washed  by  the  heavy  rains  from  the  higher  districts, 
and  which,  soon  accumulating,  swell  into  rapid  tor 
rents,  which  rush  down  these  ravines  with  extraor 
dinary  swiftness  and  force,  sweeping  every  thing 
before  them. 

"  There  did  not  appear  to  be  many  mining  parties 
at  the  Stanislaus  at  this  particular  period,  for  the 
encampments  were  generally  from  two  to  five  miles 
apart,  the  space  between  them  increasing  the  higher 
you  advanced  towards  the  mountains,  to  the  foot  of 
which  the  ravine  extended — altogether,  a  distance  of 
many  miles.  The  lower  part  of  the  mine,  I  concluded 
from  this  fact,  to  be  by  far  the  richer,  simply  from- 
the  circumstance  I  have  mentioned  ;  richer,  compara 
tively,  because  here  the  deposits  of  gold  are  more 
easily  found  and  extracted;  not  richer,  in  reality,  as 
the  metal  must  exist  in  immense  quantities  in  the 
upper  regions,  from  which  it  is  washed  down  by  the 
rains  and  floods  into  the  lower  districts.  The  virgin 
deposit  would,  doubtless,  be  difficult  to  come  at ;  but, 
if  sought  after  at  all,  that  it  is  to  be  sought  in  the 
mountains  and  high  lands,  I  feel  persuaded. 

"  I  turned  back,   after  prosecuting  my  excursion 
until  the  ravine  became  almost  too  rocky  to  allow  me 


72  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

to  proceed,  and  until  I  saw  that  the  '  diggins'  dimin 
ished  materially  in  number.  On  clambering  the  hills 
at  the  side,  I  beheld  abundance  of  pines,  oak,  cedar, 
and  palm  ;  but  no  grass,  nor  vegetation  of  any  other 
kind,  save  prickly  shrubs,  with  here  and  there  a  patch 
of  extremely  dry  moss.  On  my  way  back,  I  passed 
several  tents  and  huts  erected  by  the  miners,  all  of 
the  very  poorest  and  most  wretched  description. 

"  I  found  Van  Anker's  party  at  dinner,  in  front  of 
their  tent.  Van  showed  me  a  leathern  bag,  contain 
ing  several  pounds'  weight  of  very  pure  gold,  and 
which  was  carelessly  tossed  about  from  one  to  the 
other  for  examination.  It  was  the  produce  of  his 
morning's  work,  he  having  fortunately  struck  upon  a 
large  pocket. 

"  On  inquiring  whether,  as  there  existed  such  strong 
temptation,  robberies  were  not  very  frequent,  I  was 
informed,  that,  although  thefts  had  occurred,  yet, 
generally  speaking,  the  miners  dwelt  in  no  distrust  of 
one  another,  and  left  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  in 
gold  dust  in  their  tents  whilst  they  were  absent  dig 
ging.  They  all  felt,  intuitively,  that  honesty  was 
literally  the  best  policy,  and  a  determination  to  punish 
robbery  seemed  to  have  been  come  to  by  all  as  a 
measure  essential  to  the  security  and  welfare  of  the 
mining  community,  independent  of  any  question  of 
principle. 

"  Gambling  and  drinking  were  carried  on,  I  found, 
to  a  most  demoralizing  extent.  Brandy  and  cham 
pagne,  whenever  they  were  brought  to  the  'diggins,' 
realized  enormous  prices,  varying  from  sixteen  to 
twenty  dollars  a  bottle  ;  and  some  of  the  men  would, 
after  accumulating  some  hundred  dollars,  squander  the 
whole  in  purchasing  these  beverages.  Believing  the 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  73 

supply  of  gold  to  be  inexhaustible,  they  persisted  in 
this  reckless  course,  and  discovered  only  when  it  be 
came  too  late  to  redeem  their  error,  that  even  here 
gold  cannot  always  be  procured.  They  went  on  until 
the  placers  failed  to  yield,  and  were  then  reduced  to 
great  extremities. 

"  The  miners  were  by  no  means  averse  to  lending 
*  dust'  to  those  who  required  it,  notwithstanding  that 
the  lenders  often  experienced  some  difficulty  in  getting 
back  the  advance.  One  of  Van's  party,  for  instance, 
lent  another  six  ounces  of  gold,  which  not  being 
returned  at  the  stipulated  period,  nor  for  some  time 
afterwards,  he  dunned  his  debtor  at  every  meal,  until 
the  latter,  who  had  quietly  submitted  to  the  importu 
nity,  begged  him  to  *  just  wait  ten  minutes,  and  time 
it.'  He  shouldered  his  pickaxe,  as  he  said  this,  and 
going  out  of  the  shed,  returned  within  the  time,  bring 
ing  back  more  than  sufficient  to  liquidate  the  debt. 
This  little  incident  created  much  amusement." 

The  whole  of  the  gold  region  lies  between  the  San 
Joachin  and  Sacramento  Rivers  and  the  California 
range  of  mountains.  The  principal  mines  are  the 
Towallomie,  the  Stanislaus,  the  Macalamo,  the  Merced, 
Fremont's  Diggings,  or  Mariposa,  the  Calaveras,  the 
Macassime,  the  South,  Middle,  and  North  Forks, 
Bear  Creek,  Yuba,  Feather  River,  and  the  Sacra 
mento.  The  mines  are  nothing  more  than  so  many 
ravines,  which  run  across  from  the  range  of  mountains, 
and  are  flooded  by  the  torrents  which  pour  down  from 
the  upper  region  during  'the  rainy  season,  and  which 
have  been  supposed  to  bring  the  gold  down  with  them. 

The  Macalamo  Dry  Diggings  is  considered  one  of 
the  richest  placers  in  the  gold  region.  It  is  a  long 
ravine,  the  soil  of  which  is  red,  and  sometimes  blueish 

7 


74  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

in  places,  sand  predominating.  The  blue  clay  is 
thought  to  be  the  richest  by  the  diggers.  The  sides 
of  the  ravine  are  so  steep  and  irregular,  that  the  miners 
are  troubled  to  find  resting  places  of  a  night.  The 
gold  taken  out  of  this  mine  runs  large ;  the  average 
size  of  the  lumps  being  that  of  a  pea.  Pieces  have 
been  taken  out  of  it  that  weighed  above  two  pounds. 

Instances  of  robbery  and  murder  have  not  been  few  in 
the  gold  region,  as  might  be  conjectured  from  a  know 
ledge  of  the  motley  character  of  the  miners,  and  the 
temptations  offered  to  avaricious  spirits.  Yet,  all 
things  considered,  the  number  of  instances  will  not 
appear  so  very  extraordinary.  Lynch  law,  the  only 
resort  of  the  wronged  in  pocket,  or  the  friends  of  the 
murdered,  exercised  its  terrible  power,  and  tended  to 
prevent  the  crimes  that  would,  otherwise,  have  been 
frequent.  An  instance  of  this  summary  justice  we 
here  relate,  to  illustrate  the  means  by  which  the  miners 
protected  their  lives  arid  property. 

"A  sailor,  a  deserter  from  the  Ohio,  took  it  into 
his  head,  one  night,  to  rob  one  of  the  volunteers,  who 
had  set  up  a  drinking  store.  He  had  already  got  two 
bags,  containing  about  five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
gold ;  but,  not  satisfied  with  them,  grasped  at  a  third, 
half  full  of  dollars  in  silver.  The  jingling  of  the  coin 
awoke  the  owner,  who,  springing  up,  gave  the  alarm, 
and,  after  a  hot  pursuit,  the  thief  was  captured,  and 
bound  to  a  tree  until  morning.  At  about  nine,  a  jury 
of  twelve  miners  sat  to  consider  the  case,  a  volunteer 
named  Nutman  officiating  for  Judge  Lynch.  Of 
course,  he  was  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be 
hanged ;  but,  some  opposition  being  raised  to  depriving 
him  of  life,  and  a  milder  punishment  suggested ;  it  was 
finally  determined  that  he  should  receive  a  hundred 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  75 

lashes  on  his  bare  back,  have  his  ears  cut  off,  and  his 
head  shaved,  so  that  he  might  be  every  where  recog 
nized  in  the  mining  districts.  This  sentence  gave 
general  satisfaction.  The  poor  wretch  was  at  once 
fastened  by  his  hands  to  the  branch  of  a  tree,  and  the 
fellows  proceeded  to  shave  his  head,  whilst  some 
sailors  of  the  party  set  to  work  manufacturing  cats. 
His  feet  were  then  tied  together  to  the  foot  of  the  tree, 
and  when  his  head  had  been  shaved,  a  doctor  lopped 
off  his  ears.  He  bled  a  good  deal ;  but,  when  the 
blood  was  staunched,  they  set  to  flogging  him,  and 
they  didn't  spare  him  either.  After  this,  they  kicked 
him  out. 

"  Well,  he  went  off,  and  when  he  was  about  half  a 
mile  away,  stole  a  mule,  and  rode  over  to  the  <  Cala- 
veras'  diggins,  where  the  animal  was  claimed  by  the 
owner.  He  was  thereupon  tried  for  mule-stealing, 
and  sentenced  to  receive  another  flogging ;  but  when 
the  miners  came  to  strip  him,  they  found  his  back  so 
shockingly  cut  up,  that  they  took  compassion  on  him, 
and  contented  themselves  with  driving  him  out  of  the 
district,  where  he  never  appeared  again." 

During  the  summer  season,  when  exposure  and 
labor  in  the  mines,  together  with  unwholesome  food, 
produce  a  great  prevalence  of  fever  and  dysentery, 
the  native  Californians  make  use  of  a  singular  remedy. 
It  is  called  the  temascal ;  being  a  sort  of  hot  air  bath, 
shaped  something  like  a  sentry-box.  It  is  built  of 
wicker-work,  and  afterwards  plastered  with  mud  until 
it  becomes  air  tight.  The  mode  of  application  of  this 
remedy  is  as  follows : — A  large  fire  is  built  close  up 
to  the  door  of  the  structure — a  narrow  aperture,  just 
large  enough  for  a  man  to  squeeze  through.  This  is 
allowed  to  burn  itself  out,  having  while  burning, 


76  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

heated  to  a  very  high  degree  the  air  in  the  interior 
of  the  box.  Into  this  the  patient  screws  himself,  and 
there  remains  until  a  profuse  perspiration  is  produced, 
which  is  checked  suddenly  by  a  plunge  into  the  chilly 
waters  of  the  river.  This  is  of  the  nature  of  a  Thomp- 
sonian  remedy. 

The  absorbing  interest  with  which  the  gold-seekers 
proceed  in  their  work  is  admirably  depicted  by  one 
of  the  adventurers,  in  a  book  published  after  his 
return.* 

"Arriving  on  the -Jar,  the  scene  presented  to  us 
was  new  indeed,  and  not  more  extraordinary  than 
impressive.  Some  with  long-handled  shovels,  delved 
among  clumps  of  bushes,  or  by  the  side  of  large  rocks, 
never  raising  their  eyes  for  an  instant ;  others  with 
pick  and  shovel  worked  among  stone  and  gravel,  or 
with  trowels  searched  under  banks  and  roots  of  trees, 
where,  if  rewarded  with  small  lumps  of  gold,  the  eye 
shone  brighter  for  an  instant,  when  the  search  was 
immediately  and  more  ardently  resumed.  At  the 
edge  of  the  stream,  or  knee  deep  and  waist  deep  in 
water,  as  cold  as  melted  ice  and  snow  could  make  it, 
some  were  washing  gold  with  tin  pans  or  the  common 
cradle  rocker,  while  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  pouring 
down  on  their  heads,  with  an  intensity  exceeding  any 
thing  we  ever  experienced  at  home,  though  it  was  but 
the  middle  of  April. 

"  The  thirst  for  gold  and  the  labor  of  acquisition 
overruled  all  else,  and  totally  absorbed  every  faculty. 
Complete  silence  reigned  among  the  miners  ;  they 
addressed  not  a  word  to  each  other,  and  seemed  averse 
to  all  conversation.  All  the  sympathies  of  common 

*  Sights  in  the  Gold  Region,  or  Scenes  by  the  Way,  by  Theodore 
T.  Johnson. 


HISTOHY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  77 

humanity,  all  the  finer  and  noble  attributes  of  our 
nature  seemed  lost,  buried  beneath  the  soil  they  were 
eagerly  delving,  or  swept  away  with  the  rushing  waters 
that  revealed  the  shining  treasure." 

This  extract  is  suggestive  of  considerable  reflection. 
The  same  amount  of  attention  given  to  any  pursuit 
must  produce  results  equally  as  satisfactory  as  that 
given  to  gold-seeking.  But  gold  carries  with  it  such 
obvious  enjoyments  to  the  grosser  minds,  that  the 
pursuit  of  it  alone  can  attract  their  attention  sufficiently 
to  effect  any  thing  considerable.  Could  the  pure 
enjoyments  connected  with  the  practice  of  virtue  be 
made  as  obvious  to  all  minds,  the  result  would  be 
something  at  which  the  philanthropist  might  rejoice. 

The  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  during  the  summer, 
in  the  valleys  and  canons  of  the  gold  region,  are  very 
remarkable.  From  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  till 
five  in  the  afternoon,  the  heat  is  almost  intolerable. 
The  sun's  rays  pour  down  through  an  atmosphere 
clear  and  dry,  and  their  power  is  increased  by  reflec 
tion  from  the  sides  of  the  canons  and  mountains,  and 
from  the  surface  of  the  streams.  During  the  night, 
the  air  becomes  so  cold  as  to  render  blankets  very 
serviceable.  This  is  caused  by  the  waters  of  the  different 
streams  rising  during  the  night,  their  volume  being 
increased  by  the  melting  of  the  snows  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  by  the  heat  of  the  previous  day. 

Thousands  of  Indians,  belonging  to  the  Snake, 
Shoshonee,  and  Crow  tribes,  are  at  work  at  the  mines. 
They  are  generally  employed  by  some  of  the  wealthy 
white  men,  and  are  paid  in  provisions  and  a  sort  of 
liquor  made  from  California  grapes,  '  called  pisco. 
What  money  or  gold  they  get  for  themselves  is  spent 
in  gambling — a  vice  to  which  they  are  most  excessively 


78  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

addicted.  Instances  are  not  few  of  their  having 
staked  the  produce  of  their  labor  during  some  weeks 
subsequent  to  the  game.  Many  of  the  Indians  desire 
no  other  pay  than  as  much  pisco  as  they  can  drink, 
with  a  little  acorn  bread. 

The  native  Californians  form  a  goodly  proportion 
of  the  gold-seekers.  Many  of  the  men  are  accom 
panied  by  their  wives,  who  are  attended  by  Indian 
girls.  The  graceful  Spanish  costume  of  the  Califor 
nians  adds  quite  a  feature  to  the  busy  scene  at  the 
mines.  There  may  be  seen  the  long,  lank  forms  of 
the  Yankees,  with  their  wide  white  trousers  and  straw 
hats  ;  the  half-naked  Indians  ;  the  native  born  Cali 
fornians,  with  their  dusky  visages  and  lustrous  black 
eyes.  The  latter  are  generally  clad  in  a  short,  tight 
jacket,  with  lace  trimming,  and  velvet  breeches,  with 
a  silk  sash  fastened  round  the  waist.  With  regard  to 
the  appearance  of  the  women,  and,  also,  for  the  sake 
of  the  description  of  one  of  the  evening  entertainments 
in  the  gold  region,  we  quote  from  a  recent  tourist,  to 
whom  we  have  been  indebted  before.* 

"  The  appearance  of  tho  women  is  graceful  and 
coquettish.  Their  petticoats,  short  enough  to  display 
in  most  instances  a  well-turned  ankle,  are  richly 
laced  and  embroidered,  and  striped  and  flounced  with 
gaudy  colors,  of  which  scarlet  seems  to  have  the  prefer 
ence.  Their  tresses  hang  in  luxuriant  plaits  down 
their  backs  ;  and  in  all  the  little  accessories  of  dress, 
such  as  earrings,  necklaces,  &c.,  the  costumo  is  very 
rich.  Its  distinguishing  feature,  however,  is  the 
reboso,  a  sort  of  scarf,  generally  made  of  cotton, 
which  answers  to  the  mantilla  of  Old  Spain.  It  is 

*  Four  Months  Among  the  Gold  Finders  of  California,  by  J.  Tyr- 
whit  Brooks,  M.  D. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA.  79 

worn  in  many  different  and  graceful  fashions — some 
times  twined  round  the  waist  and  shoulders  ;  at  others, 
hanging  in  pretty  festoons  about  the  figure,  but  always 
disposed  with  that  indescribable  degree  of  coquettish 
grace  which  Spanish  women  have  been  for  ages 
allowed  to  possess  in  the  management  of  the  fan  and 
the  mantilla.  Since  these  arrivals,  almost  every 
evening  a  fandango  is  got  up  on  the  green,  before 
some  of  the  tents.  The  term  fandango,  though  origin 
ally  signifying  a  peculiar  kind  of  dance,  seemed  to  bo 
used  here  for  an  evening's  dancing  entertainment,  in 
which  many  different  pas  are  introduced.  I  was  pre 
sent  at  a  fandango  a  few  nights  ago,  when  a  couple 
of  performers  were  dancing  '  el  jarabe,'  which  seemed 
to  consist  chiefly  of  a  series  of  monotonous  toe  and 
heel  movements  on  the  ground.  The  motions  of  the 
foot  were,  however,  wonderfully  rapid,  and  always  in 
exact  time  to  the  music.  But  at  these  entertainments 
the  waltz  seems  to  be  the  standing  dish.  It  is  danced 
with  numerous  very  intricate  figures,  to  which  however, 
all  the  Califorriians  appear  quite  au  fait.  Men  and 
women  alike  waltz  beautifully,  with  an  easy,  graceful 
swinging  motion. 

"It  is  quite  a  treat,  after  a  hard  day's  work, 
to  go  at  nightfall  to  one  of  these  fandangos.  The 
merry  notes  of  the  guitar  and  the  violin  announce 
them  to  all  comers  ;  and  a  motley  enough  looking 
crowd,  every  member  of  which  is  pufiing  away 
at  a  cigar,  forms  an  applauding  circle  around  the 
dancers,  who  smoke  like  all  the  rest.  One  cannot 
help  being  struck  by  the  picturesque  costume  and 
graceful  movements  of  the  performers,  who  appear  to 
dance  not  only  with  their  legs,  but  with  all  their  hearts 
and  souls.  During  the  interval  between  the  dances, 


80  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

coffee  is  consumed  by  the  senoras,  and  the  coffee  with 
something  stronger  by  the  senors  ;  so  that,  as  the 
night  advances,  the  merriment  gets,  if  not  '  fast  and 
furious,'  at  least  animated  and  imposing." 

The  dangers  which  the  adventurers  are  subjected  to 
encounter  are  often  increased  by  the  hostility  of  the 
Indians.  These,  however,  only  molest  those  who  are 
daring  enough  to  frequent  the  outskirts  of  the  gold 
region.  There  the  Indians  are  treacherous,  and  will 
attack  small  parties,  even  after  smoking  the  pipe  of 
peace  with  them.  Their  principal  weapons  are  bows 
and  arrows ;  for  though  many  of  them  have  guns  in 
their  possession,  the  scarcity  of  ammunition  prevents 
them  from  using  them  to  any  purpose.  The  following 
description  of  an  encounter  with  them  by  a  small  party, 
encamped  in  the  valley  of  the  Bear  River,  then  seldom 
frequented  by  white  men,  will  give  an  idea  of  their 
mode  of  attack  : 

"  We  were  just  on  the  point  of  returning  to  the 
camp  to  dinner,  when  Bowling,  who  was  standing  near 
some  sage  bushes  at  the  upper  part  of  the  ravine, 
heard  a  rustling  among  them,  and  on  moving  in  the 
direction  of  the  noise  saw  an  Indian  stealthily  creeping 
along,  who,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  he  was  discovered, 
discharged  an  arrow,  which  just  missed  its  mark,  but 
lacerated,  and  that  rather  severely,  Dowling's  ear. 
The  savage  immediately  set  up  a  most  terrific  whoop, 
and  ran  off,  but  tumbled  before  he  could  draw  another 
arrow  from  his  quiver,  while  Dowling,  rushing  for 
ward,  buried  his  mattock  in  the  head  of  his  fallen  foe, 
killing  him  instantaneously. 

"  At  this  moment  we  heard  the  crack  of  a  rifle  in 
the  direction  of  the  camp,  which,  with  the  Indian's 
whoop  at  the  same  moment,  completely  bewildered  us. 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 


81 


Every  man,  however,  seized  his  rifle,  and  Bowling, 
hastening  towards  us,  told  us  of  what  had  just  occurred. 
All  was  still  for  the  next  few  moments,  and  I  mounted 
a  little  hill  to  reconnoitre.  Suddenly  I  saw  a  troop  of 
Indians,  the  foremost  of  them  on  horseback,  approach 
ing  at  full  speed;  I  hastily  returned  to  my  companions, 
and  we  sought  shelter  in  a  little  dell,  determined  to 
await  there,  and  resist  the  attack,  for  it  was  evident 
that  the  savages'  intentions  were  any  thing  but  pacific. 
"  It  was  a  moment  of  breathless  excitement.  We 
heard  the  tramp,  tramp  of  the  horses  coming  on 
towards  us,  but  as  yet,  they  and  their  riders  were 
concealed  from  our  view.  I  confess  I  trembled  vio 
lently,  not  exactly  with  fear,  although  I  expected  that 
a  few  moments  would  see  us  all  scalped  by  our  savage 
assailants.  It  was  the  suddenness  of  the  danger  which 
startled  me,  and  made  rny  heart  throb  violently  ;  but 
at  that  moment,  just  as  I  was  reproaching  myself  with 
the  want  of  courage,  a  terrific  yell  rung  through  the 
air  at  a  short  distance  from  us,  and  forty  or  fifty  war 
like  Indians  appeared  in  sight.  My  whole  frame  was 
nerved  in  an  instant,  and  when  a  shower  of  arrows 
flew  amongst  us,  I  was  the  first  man  to  answer  it  with 
a  rifle-shot,  which  brought  one  of  the  foremost  Indians 
off  his  horse  to  the  ground.  I  instantly  reloaded,  but 
in  the  mean  while  the  rifles  of  my  companions  had  been 
doing  good  service.  We  had  taken  up  our  position 
behind  a  row  of  willow  trees  which  skirted  the  banks 
of  a  narrow  stream,  and  hero  we  were  protected  in  a 
great  measure  from  the  arrows  of  our  assailants,  which 
were  in  most  cases  turned  aside  by  the  branches.  A 
second  volley  of  rifle-shots  soon  followed  the  first ; 
and  while  we  were  reloading,  and  the  smoke  had 
slightly  cleared  away,  I  could  see  that  we  had  spread 


82  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

consternation  in  the  ranks  of  the  Indian  warriors,  and 
that  they  were  gathering  up  their  wounded  prepara 
tory  to  retiring.  I  had  my  eye  on  an  old  man,  who 
had  just  leaped  from  his  horse.  My  finger  was  on 
the  trigger,  when  I  saw  him  coolly  advance,  and, 
taking  one  of  his  wounded  companions,  who  had  heen 
shot  through  the  leg,  in  his  arms,  place  him  on  a 
horse,  then  mounting  his  own,  and  catching  hold  of 
the  other  animal's  bridle,  gallop  off  at  full  speed. 
Although  I  knew  full  well  that  if  the  fortune  of  the 
day  had  gone  against  us,  these  savages  would  not 
have  spared  a  single  man  of  our  party,  still  I  could 
not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  fire  on  the  old  chief,  and  he 
carried  off  his  wounded  comrade  in  safety. 

"  In  a  few  minutes  the  hill-sides  were  clear,  and 
when  we  emerged  from  our  shelter,  all  that  was  visible 
of  the  troop  of  warriors  was  three  of  them  weltering 
in  their  blood,  a  bow  or  two,  and  some  empty  quivers, 
and  a  few  scattered  feathers  and  tomahawks,  lying  on 
the  ground." 

The  grizzly  bear  is  also  one  of  the  terrors  encoun 
tered  by  the  gold-seekers.  This  animal  grows  to  the 
size  of  four  feet  in  height  and  six  in  length.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  ferocious  animals  of  North  America. 
Mules  and  cattle  of  various  kinds,  and  even  men,  are 
attacked  by  it,  and  its  great  strength  generally  enables 
it  to  come  off  with  its  prey.  Great  quickness  and 
courage  are  absolute  essentials  of  those  who  hunt  these 
animals,  or  encounter  them  accidentally.  An  adven 
ture  of  two  or  three  gold-seekers,  on  their  road  to  the 
mines,  accidentally  meeting  with  a  grizzly  bear,  is 
thus  shortly  detailed  in  the  journal  of  a  returned 
adventurer.* 

*  Six  Months  in  the  Gold  Mines,  by  E.  Gould  Buffum. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


83 


"  About  half  way  from  the  rancheria  a  loud  bray 
ing,  followed  by  a  fierce  growl,  attracted  our  attention, 
and  in  a  few  moments  a  frightened  mule,  closely  pur 
sued  by  an  enormous  grizzly  bear,  descended  the 
hill-side  within  forty  yards  of  where  we  stood  leaning 
on  our  rifles.  As  the  bear  reached  the  road,  Iliggins', 
with  his  usual  quickness  and  intrepidity,  fired,  and  an 
unearthly  yell  from  the  now  infuriated  animal  told 
with  what  effect.  The  mule  in  the  interval  had  crossed 
the  road,  and  was  now  scampering  away  over  the 
plains,  and  Bruin,  finding  himself  robbed  of  his  prey, 
turned  upon  us.  I  levelled  my  rifle  and  gave  him  the 
contents  with  hearty  good  will,  but  the  wounds  he  had 
received  only  served  to  exasperate  the  monster,  who 
now  made  towards  us  with  rapid  strides.  Deeming 
prudence  the  better  part  of  valor,  we  ran  with  all  con 
venient  speed  in  the  direction  of  the  camp,  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  which  my  foot  became  entangled  in 
the  underbrush,  and  I  fell  headlong  upon  the  earth. 
In  another  instant  I  should  have  fallen  a  victim  to 
old  Bruin's  rage,  but  a  well-directed  ball  from  my 
companion's  rifle  entered  his  brain  and  arrested  his 
career.  The  whole  party  now  came  to  our  assistance 
and  soon  despatched  Mr.  Grizzly.  Dragging  him  to 
camp,  we  made  a  hearty  supper  from  his  fat  ribs,  and, 
as  I  had  probably  been  the  more  frightened  of  the 
two,  I  claimed  as  an  indemnity  his  skin,  which  pro 
tected  me  afterward  from  the  damp  ground  many  a 
cold  night.  He  was  a  monstrous  fellow,  measuring 
nearly  four  feet  in  height,  and  six  in  length,  and  a 
stroke  from  his  huge  paw  would,  had  he  caught  us, 
have  entirely  dissipated  the  golden  dreams  of  Higgins 
and  myself." 

The  same  writer  gives  quite  a  graphic  description 


84  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

of  an  attack  of  the  scourge  of  the  miners,  the  disease 
called  scurvy.     He  says : 

"  I  was  again  dreaming  of  fortune  and  success,  when 
my  hopes  were  blasted  by  an  attack  of  a  terrible 
scourge  that  wrought  destruction  through  the  northern 
mines  during  the  winter  of  1848.  I  allude  to  the  land 
scurvy.  The  exposed  and  unaccustomed  life  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  miners,  and  their  entire  subsistence  upon 
salt  meat,  without  any  mixture  of  vegetable  matter, 
had  produced  this  disease,  which  was  experienced  more 
or  less  by  one-half  of  the  miners  within  my  knowledge. 
Its  symptoms  and  progress  may  not  be  uninteresting. 
It  was  first  noticed  in  the  'Dry  Diggings,'  where, 
about  the  middle  of  February,  many  persons  were 
rendered  unable  to  walk  by  swellings  of  the  lower 
limbs,  and  severe  pains  in  them.  It  was  at  first  sup 
posed  to  be  rheumatism,  and  was  treated  as  such. 
But  it  withstood  the  most  powerful  applications  used 
in  that  complaint,  and  was  finally  decided  to  be  scurvy. 
So  long  as  the  circumstances  which  caused  it  continued, 
the  disease  made  rapid  progress.  Many,  who  could 
obtain  no  vegetables,  or  vegetable  acids,  lingered  out 
a  miserable  existence  and  died, — while  others,  fortu 
nate  enough  to  reach  the  settlements,  where  potatoes 
and  acids  could  be  procured,  recovered.  I  noticed  its 
first  attack  upon  myself  by  swelling  and  bleeding  of 
the  gums,  which  was  followed  by  a  swelling  of  both 
legs  below  the  knee,  which  rendered  me  unable  to 
walk ;  and  for  three  weeks  I  was  laid  up  in  my  tent, 
obliged  to  feed  upon  the  very  articles  that  had  caused 
the  disease,  and  growing  daily  weaker,  without  any 
reasonable  prospect  of  relief.  There  were,  at  that 
time,  about  eight  hundred  persons  at  work  on  the  river, 
and  hoping  to  get  some  medicine,  I  despatched  one  of 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


85 


my  companions  one  morning,  with  instructions  to 
procure  me,  if  possible,  a  dose  of  salts,  and  to  pay  for 
it  any  price  that  should  be  asked.  He  returned  at 
night  with  the  consoling  news  that  he  had  failed, 
having  found  only  two  persons  who  had  brought  the 
article  with  them,  and  they  refused  to  sell  it  at  any  price. 
"  I  was  almost  in  despair;  with  only  a  blanket  be 
tween  myself  and  the  damp,  cold  earth,  and  a  thin 
canvas  to  protect  me  from  the  burning  sun  by  day, 
and  the  heavy  dews  by  night,  I  lay  day  after  day 
enduring  the  most  intense  suffering  fnom  pain  in  my 
limbs,  which  were  now  becoming  more  swollen,  and 
were  turning  completely  black.  Above  me  rose  those 
formidable  hills  which  I  must  ascend  ere  I  could 
obtain  relief.  I  believe  I  should  have  died,  had  not 
accident  discovered  the  best  remedy  that  could  have 
been  produced.  In  the  second  week  of  my  illness, 
one  of  our  party,  in  descending  the  hill  on  which  he 
had  been  deer  hunting,  found  near  its  base,  and  strewn 
along  the  foot-track,  a  quantity  of  beans  which  sprouted 
from  the  ground,  and  were  in  leaf.  Some  one,  in 
descending  the  hill  with  a  bag  of  them  on  his  back, 
had  probably  dropped  them.  My  companion  gathered 
a  quantity  and  brought  them  into  camp.  I  bad  them 
boiled,  and  lived  entirely  on  them  for  several  days,  at 
the  same  time  using  a  decoction  of  the  bark  of  the 
spruce  tree.  These  seemed  to  operate  magically ;  and 
in  a  week  after  commencing  the  use  of  them,  I  found 
myself  able  to  walk, — and  as  soon  as  my  strength  was 
partially  restored,  I  ascended  the  hill,  and  with  two 
companions  walked  into  Culoma  ;  and  by  living  prin 
cipally  upon  a  vegetable  diet,  which  I  procured  by 
paying  three  dollars  per  pound  for  potatoes,  in  a  very 
short  time  I  recovered." 

8 

i    _ . ^ 


86  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Thus  life  in  the  gold  region  is  made  up  of  variety 
and  contrast.  Sometimes  the  diggers  and  washers 
pass  weeks  busily  engaged  at  their  toilsome  occupation, 
without  the  monotony  of  the  time  and  scene  being 
disturbed.  Again,  adventures  and  exciting  incidents 
will  be  plentiful  and  various.  At  one  time,  pleasant 
weather  and  fandangos  offer  easy  enjoyment ;  at 
another,  extremes  of  weather,  hard  work,  and  bad 
food  render  the  life  of  the  miner  almost  intolerable. 
Frequently,  the  gold-seeker  chances  to  meet  spots 
that  yield  ample  reward  for  his  toil;  and  often  he 
works  beneath  the  fierce  rays  of  a  broiling  sun,  while 
his  legs  are  in  chilly  water,  and  his  day's  toil  scarce 
yields  more  than  enough  to  pay  for  his  living.  The 
trading-posts,  situated  at  and  near  the  mines,  do  a  far 
more  certain  and  an  equally  profitable  business.  They 
are  generally  the  establishments  of  shrewd,  speculat 
ing  Yankees,  who  know  what  sort  of  labor  is  requisite 
to  make  a  gold-seeker  successful,  and  prefer  to  trust 
to  the  profits  of  bargaining  in  provisions  and  mining 
necessaries  for  gold. 

That  the  country  is  pregnant  with  an  enormous 
quantity  of  the  precious  metal  is  unquestionable.  But 
that  severe  and  weakening  labor,  together  with  tough 
constitutions,  are  indispensable  requisites  for  pro 
curing  it,  scarcely  admits  of  a  doubt.  Very  few  spend 
any  considerable  time  in  working  at  the  "  diggings," 
who  do  not  suffer  from  exposure,  and  lose  a  portion 
of  their  constitutional  stability.  So  far,  all  attempts 
at  the  construction  of  machines  for  washing  the  gold 
from  the  sand,  have  been  of  little  avail.  Machines 
have  been  invented  and  carried  out  to  the  gold  region 
by  some  of  the  numerous  companies,  which,  upon 
trial,  have  soon  been  abandoned  for  the  "  cradle,"  and 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


87 


common  wash  pan  ;  but  still,  the  field  for  invention  is 
open,  and  the  labor  now  necessary  for  procuring  the 
gold  is  susceptible  of  considerable  diminution.  Of 
course,  the  means  of  transporting  provisions  and  other 
necessaries  to  the  mines  are  constantly  improving,  as 
the  country  is  becoming  settled ;  and  thus,  one  great 
source  of  privation  and  disease  is  rapidly  diminishing. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  SOME  OF  THE  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  OF 
CALIFORNIA,  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  THE  DISCOVERY  OF 
THE  GOLD  MINES. 

AT  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  existence  of 
gold  in  the  region  of  the  Sacramento,  San  Francisco 
was  a  very  inconsiderable  town.  As  soon  as  the  news 
of  the  discovery  was  spread  among  its  inhabitants,  it 
became  almost  deserted.  Indeed,  at  one  time,  there 
was  only  seven  male  inhabitants  left  in  the  town.  The 
site  of  the  present  city  of  San  Francisco  was  not  then 
occupied  by  more  than  fifty  houses  in  all.  These 
were  occupied  by  a  few  foreign  merchants  and  some 
native  Californians.  The  houses  were  rudely  con 
structed,  the  principal  materials  being  adobe's,  or  un- 
burnt  bricks.  They  were  generally  one  story  high, 
and  most  of  them  were  erected  near  the  beach ;  while  at 
the  rear  of  the  "town,"  was  a  sandy  plain  terminated 
by  a  range  of  hills.  But  as  soon  as  the  news  of  the 
gold  discovery  reached  the  United  States,  and  other 
countries,  companies  for  mining  purposes  were  imme- 


88 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


diately  formed,  and  emigrants  soon  crowded  every 
route  to  the  "  Land  of  Promise."  Then  San  Francisco 
began  to  be  the  great  receptacle  of  the  emigrants  and 
the  merchandise  of  various  kinds  necessary  for  their 
maintenance.  The  following  is  a  very  complete  pic 
ture  of  the  city  after  the  spreading  of  the  gold  news, 
and  the  flood  of  emigration  had  commenced. 

"  Numberless  vessels,  mostly  from  the  United  States, 
filled  the  bay,  in  front  of  San  Francisco,  many  of  them 
being  deserted  by  their  crews,  and  unable  to  procure 
others  to  take  their  places.  On  landing,  I  had  to 
clamber  up  a  steep  hill,  on  the  top  of  which,  and 
opposite  to  where  I  stood,  was  a  large  wooden  house, 
two  stories  high,  and  scarcely  half  finished.  In  the 
rear  of  this,  rose  another  and  a  steeper  hill,  whose 
slopes  were  covered  with  a  multiplicity  of  tents.  To 
my  right,  ran  a  sort  of  steep,  or  precipice,  defended 
by  sundry  pieces  of  cannon,  which  commanded  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor.  I  next  came  to  the  '  Point,' 
and,  crossing  it,  found  myself  within  the  town. 

"  The  first  objects  that  attracted  my  notice  were 
several  canvas  houses,  measuring  from  ten  to  forty 
feet  square,  some  being  grog-shops,  others  eating 
establishments,  and  the  larger  set  apart  as  warehouses, 
or  places  of  storage.  The  proprietors  of  the  latter 
were  making  enormous  sums  by  the  accommodation 
their  tents  afforded  to  the  hundreds  of  travellers  who 
were  arriving  every  day  from  different  parts,  and  who, 
being  extremely  embarrassed  as  to  what  they  should 
do  with  their  luggage,  were  heartily  glad  to  find  any 
safe  place  to  store  it  in,  and  content  to  pay  for  the 
convenience. 

"  The  spectacle  which  the  beach  presented  from  a 
convenient  opening,  whence  I  could  comprise  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


89 


whole  at  a  glance,  was  singularly  interesting  and 
curious.  A  crowd  of  individuals,  in  motley  garb,  and 
of  every  variety  of  race,  might  be  seen  pressing  eagerly 
upward  towards  the  town,  jostling  and  pushing  one 
another,  in  their  anxiety  to  be  first,  yet  looking  eagerly 
about  them,  as  If  to  familiarize  themselves  at  once 
with  the  country  of  their  adoption.  Here  were  dandies 
from  the  United  States  and  from  France,  picking  their 
steps  mincingly,  as  they  strove  to  keep  pace  with  the 
sturdy  fellows  who  carried  their  luggage  ;  their  beaver 
hats,  fashionable  frock-coats,  irreproachable  and  well- 
strapped  pantaloons,  exciting  the  derisive  remarks  of 
the  spectators,  the  majority  of  them  '  old  Californians,' 
whose  rough  labor  at  the  *  diggins'  had  taught  them 
to  estimate  such  niaiseries  at  their  proper  value.  By 
their  side  stalked  the  stately  and  dignified  Spaniard, 
covered  with  his  broad-brimmed,  low-crowned  sombrero, 
and  gracefully  enveloped  in  his  ample  serapa,  set  off 
by  a  bright  scarlet  sash.  He  turns  neither  to  the 
right  nor  to  the  left,  nor  heeds  the  crowd  about  him, 
but  keeps  on  the  even  tenor  of  his  way — though  even 
he  has  occasionally  to  jump  for  it — presenting,  in  his 
demeanor  and  costume,  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
more  bustling  activity  of  the  Yankees,  who  are  elbow 
ing  every  one,  in  their  anxiety  to  go  a-head.  A  lot 
of  shopboys,  too — mere  lads,  as  spruce  and  neatly 
attired  as  though  they  had  just  stepped  out  of  some 
fashionable  emporium,  mingle  with  the  rest,  and,  as 
they  enter  the  town,  strike  up  the  popular  parody — 

1  Oh,  California.     That's  the  land  for  me  ! 
I'm  bound  for  the  Sacramento,  with 
The  wash-bowl  on  my  knee.' 

And    presently,    their    brother-adventurers,   excited 


90  HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

by  hopes  of  the  wildest  kind,  join  vociferously  in 
chorus,  in  the  exuberance  of  their  joy. 

"A  group  of  Englishmen,  muscular  in  form,  and 
honest  in  feature,  are  chaffering  with  the  keen-witted 
Yankee  porters  for  the  carriage  of  their  luggage. 
There  is  an  air  of  dogged  resolution  about  them,  that 
plainly  indicates  they  will  not  submit  to  what  they 
evidently  consider  an  imposition.  Such  a  sum  for  so 
slender  a  service  !  Well,  then,  they  can  carry  their 
baggage  themselves:  so  they  will;  and,  quickly 
shouldering  it,  some  depart  in  the  track  of  the  rest, 
whilst  two  or  three  remain  behind,  to  watch  what  is 
left,  until  their  friends  return.  They  are  manifestly 
well  known  to  one  another,  and  seem  to  be  almost 
intimate  ;  the  voyage  has  made  them  friends. 

"  Here  come  a  number  of  Chilians  and  Peruvians, 
and  a  goodly  number  of  natives  from  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  A  couple  of  Irishmen,  too  !  I  know  them 
by  their  vivacity,  and  by  the  odd  trick  they  have  of 
getting  into  every  body's  way ;  to  say  nothing  of  their 
broad,  merry  faces.  Their  property  is  in  common,  it 
seems;  for  they  have  only  one  small  pack  between 
them. 

"Here  come  ten  or  a  dozen  plainly  but  comfortably 
dressed  mechanics ;  hard-working  men  they  seem,  and 
just  the  sort  of  persons  to  make  their  way  in  a  coun 
try  where  the  artisan  occupies  his  proper  position,  and 
where  honest  toil — and  dishonest,  too,  sometimes — is 
almost  certain  to  reap  a  harvest.  Far  differently  will 
you  fare,  and  far  preferable,  too,  will  be  your  lot,  in 
regions  where  privation  is  the  rule,  to  that  of  many 
amongst  your  numerous  fellow-travellers,  unaccus 
tomed  as  they  are  to  laborious  occupations — with 
frames  immured  to  fatigue,  and  constitutions  unha- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


91 


bituated  to  scanty  fare,  to  exposure  to  heat  and  cold, 
and  wet  and  sudden  changes  !  Whilst  you  arc  succeed 
ing  in  your  object,  they  will  grow  wearied,  disappointed, 
and  home-sick,  and  long  to  be  back  again  on  the 
theatre  of  their  former  struggles. 

"  The  human  stream  ceases  not  to  flow  from  the 
vessels  in  the  harbor  ;  no  sooner  is  one  boat-load 
disposed  of  than  another  arrives,  and  so  on,  until  the 
town  is  gorged  with  new-comers,  who,  after  a  few 
days'  sojourn,  to  recruit  their  strength,  after  the 
fatigues  of  a  long  and  irksome  voyage,  depart,  and 
are  seen  no  more  for  months;  many,  perhaps,  never 
to  return.  Very  few  of  this  vast  multitude  deserve 
the  epithet  of  poor.  ,  To  get  here  at  all  requires 
money  ;  and  to  maintain  one's  self  after  getting  here, 
the  emigrant  must  have  some  little  means. 

"  The  majority  of  the  emigrants  are  men  occupying 
a  respectable  station  in  society ;  some  are  even 
distinguished  in  their  calling ;  but  the  eager  desire  of 
making  a  fortune  in  a  hurry  has  induced  them  to 
throw  up  good  employments  and  comfortable  homes  ; 
to  leave  friends,  relatives,  connexions,  wife,  children, 
and  familiar  associations,  to  embark  their  strength, 
intelligence,  and  activity,  in  this  venture.  All  is 
bustle  where  they  have  landed  :  boats  going  to  and 
fro  ;  rafts  slowly  discharging  their  cumbrous  loads ; 
porters  anxiously  and  interestedly  civil ;  all  excited  ; 
all  bent  on  gain ;  ships  innumerable  in  the  bay  ; 
mountains  around  ;  a  clear,  blue  sky  above ;  and  the 
bright  waters  dancing  in  the  sun,  until  they  touch  the 
horizon  in  the  distance,  blending  their  brightness  with 
his  golden  track. 

"  I  walked  on  until  I  came  up  to  a  group  of  men, 
who,  like  myself,  were  looking  on  the  busy  scene 


92  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

before  us  with  no  small  degree  of  interest.  I  recog 
nized  amongst  them  two  of  the  volunteers,  with  whom 
I  forthwith  claimed  acquaintance.  The  whole  party 
had  come  from  the  mines,  as  was  easily  to  be  seen 
from  their  appearance,  which  was  something  the 
worse  for  wear,  their  countenances  being  weather- 
beaten  and  bronzed  by  exposure  ;  whilst  their  attire, 
consisting  of  buckskin  coats,  leather  leggings,  and 
broad-brimmed  hats,  denoted  the  sort  of  labor  in 
which  they  had  been  recently  engaged.  I  learned 
from  them,  in  the  course  of  a  subsequent  conversation, 
that  they  had  all  of  them  been  successful  at  the  i  dig 
gings.'  One  of  the  number  had  made,  or  i  picked,' 
two  thousand  dollars,  and  the  rest,  from  that  to  nine 
thousand  dollars  each,  within  the  space  of  a  few 
months.  With  this,  however,  they  were  far  from 
satisfied,  most  of  them  being  determined  to  realize  a 
large  fortune  before  they  quitted  the  cpuntry ;  for  not 
one  of  them  seemed  to  have  the  remotest  intention  of 
settling. 

"  The  party  had  come  down  from  the  mines  to  make 
purchases,  and  to  enjoy  a  little  recreation.  They  were 
admirable  specimens  of  their  class — hardy  in  appear 
ance  and  rough  in  demeanor ;  but  shrewd,  withal,  and 
toil-enduring.  For  the  moment,  their  conversation 
turned  upon  the  prospects  of  the  newly-landed  emigrants 
— for  I  should  have  stated  that  there  were  one  or  two 
arrivals  in  the  harbor — and  they  were  unsparing  of 
their  remarks  upon  such  of  the  new  comers  as  by  their 
dress,  or  any  physical  peculiarity,  offered  a  fair  target 
for  their  witticisms,  which  were  not  less  pointed  than 
coarse. 

"  The  discovery  of  the  gold  mines,  has  done  at 
once  for  San  Francisco  what  it  was  reasonable  to 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


03 


anticipate  time  only  could  have  effected ;  and  its  pro 
gress  in  importance  has  far  outstripped  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  which  could  be  based  upon  any 
hypothesis  hazarded  on  the  strength  of  its  admirable 
position  and  facilities  for  trade.  Nevertheless,  its 
growth  seems  -unnatural ;  and,  looking  at  it  as  I  saw 
it  then,  it  left  on  my  mind  the  impression  of  instability, 
so  marvellous  was  it  to  gaze  upon  a  city  of  tents,  wood, 
and  canvas,  starting  up  thus  suddenly,  forming  but  a 
halting-place  to  the  thousands  who  visited  it ;  having 
for  citizens  a  large  majority  of  gamblers  and  specula 
tors  ;  and  presenting  of  civilization  but  the  rudest 
outline,  and  some  of  its  worst  vices.  It  was  impossible, 
indeed,  for  an  observer  to  contemplate  San  Francisco, 
at  this  particular  period  of  its  history,  and  not  to  feel 
that  every  thing  about  it  savored  of  transition  A 
storm  or  a  fire  must  have  destroyed  the  whole  in  a  few 
hours ;  for  every  house,  shed,  or  tent,  had  manifestly 
been  constructed  merely  to  serve  the  end  of  the  actual 
occupier ;  they  were  all  adapted  for  trading,  but  riot 
a  convenience  or  a  comfort  appertained  to  them,  to 
indicate  a  desire  or  an  intention  of  settlement.  Every 
day  brought  new-comers,  and  added  to  the  number  of 
ephemeral  structures  which  crowded  the  hill-sides. 
Mechanics  of  every  description  of  calling  were  at  work, 
earnestly,  busily,  and  cheerfully ;  and,  whichever  way 
I  turned,  there  was  bustle  and  activity ;  yet,  withal,  I 
felt  that  such  a  state  of  things  was  unsound,  because 
resting  on  what  was  essentially  speculative,  and  I 
doubted  not  but  a  great,  change  must  come  before  the 
city  could  be  regarded  as  substantially  advancing. 
Comprised  at  a  glance,  it  presented  no  other  ap 
pearance  save  that  of  a  confused  crowd  of  tenements, 
of  every  variety  of  construction ;  some  high,  some 


94  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

low,  perched  upon  tlie  steep  hills,  or  buried  in  the 
deep  valleys — but  still  tents  and  canvas  every 
where  and  any  where,  their  numbers  defying  calcula 
tion,  their  structure  and  position  all  analysis.  There 
existed  neither  wells  nor  ponds  within  a  very  consider 
able  distance ;  and  what  struck  me  as  most  singular, 
being  aware  that  the  Spaniards  had  a  mission  here, 
there  was  no  sign  of  a  church.  I  subsequently  ascer 
tained  that  the  site  of  the  Mission  of  Dolores,  about 
five  miles  distant,  had  been  preferred  by  the  Spaniards, 
and  that  divine  service  was  performed  there  still. 

'*  As  I  proceeded  along  the  road  leading  into  the 
principal  street  of  the  city,  I  was  uncomfortably  re 
minded  that  it  would  soon  become  necessary  for  me  to 
select  a  place  where  I  could  procure  refreshment ; 
and  in  connexion  with  this  necessity,  arose  another 
consideration  no  less  important,  namely,  where  I  should 
lodge  ?  .There  was  no  other  mode  of  solving  the  diffi 
culty,  save  by  an  exploration  of  the  localities  ;  accord 
ingly,  I  kept  these  objects  in  view,  whilst  I  also  grati 
fied  my  curiosity  by  continuing  my  perambulations. 

"  In  this  same  road,  but  nearer  to  the  entrance  of 
the  main  street  than  I  should  say  was,  under  any  cir 
cumstances,  altogether  pleasant,  stood  the  correl  of  the 
Washington  Market,  being  a  spacious  area  of  ground, 
inclosed  with  stakes,  over  which  were  stretched  raw 
hides.  Owing  to  the  large  number  of  cattle  slaugh 
tered  here  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants,  the  odor 
from  this  place  was  insufferable,  and  I  quickened  my 
pace  until  my  olfactory  organs  became  sensible  of  a 
purer  atmosphere. 

"  I  turned  into  the  principal  street,  and  soon  came 
up  to  the  market  itself,  which  is  a  wooden  house,  about 
thirty  feet  square,  kept  by  an  American.  To  my 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


95 


right,  as  I  advanced,  -were  some  stores  and  hotels, 
and  a  confectioner's  shop  of  remarkably  neat  and 
clean  appearance  :  these  were  all  one  story,  wooden 
buildings.  One  of  the  hotels  was  appropriately  desig 
nated  as  i  The  Colonnade.'  It  was  kept  by  a  volun 
teer  named  Huxley,  and  differed  from  every  similar 
establishment  in  the  town,  inasmuch  as  the  proprietor 
allowed  neither  gambling  nor  drunkenness  on  his 
premises.  To  this  the  *  Gotham  Saloon,'  a  little  fur 
ther  on,  offered  a  perfect  contrast,  for  here  there  were 
several  monte  rooms  and  a  large  bowling-alley,  where 
persons  who  had  a  taste  for  the  latter  amusement 
might  indulge  in  their  favorite  pastime  for  a  dollar  a 
game.  This  saloon  was  likewise  kept  by  two  volun 
teers,  as  was  also  the  confectioner's  by  a  fourth  ;  so 
that  three  of  the  most  noted  houses  in  the  town  were 
rented  by  men,  who,  a  few  months  before,  scarcely  pos 
sessed  any  thing  save  their  enterprise  and  their  indus 
try,  but  who  were  now  on  the  high  road  to  opulence. 
The  more  credit  was  due  to  them,  and  others  of  their 
brethren  whom  fortune  had  similarly  favored,  because, 
at  first,  they  had  deep-rooted  prejudices  to  encounter, 
which  prudence  and  perseverance  only  could  have 
enabled  them  to  overcome. 

"I  came  next  to  the  Square,  or  l Plaza,'  on  one 
side  of  which,  and  fronting  it,  stood  the  '  Miner's 
Bank/  established  by  a  Mr.  Wright,  a  keen  specula 
tor,  who  had  secured  possession  of  a  large  extent  of 
landed  property,  which  he  was  turning  to  the  very 
best  account.  On  the  left  of  the  Plaza,  I  noticed  a 
spacious-looking  wooden  building,  two  stories  high, 
called  the  '  Parker  House  ;'  but  the  handsome  piazza 
in  front  caused  me  to  hesitate  on  the  threshold  ;  for  I 
apprehended — and  not  without  reason — that,  even  in 


96  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

California,  appearances  must  be  paid  for ;  as,  there 
fore,  my  purse  was  not  overstocked,  I  prudently  sought 
a  more  modest  establishment. 

"  I  passed  another  hotel,  similar  to  this  one,  but  not 
quite  so  large,  and  came  presently  to  a  low  wooden 
house,  of  most  unattractive  and  unprepossessing  ex 
terior,  which  was  dignified  by  the  name  of  the  '  Cafe 
Francais.'  As  this  seemed  likely  to  suit  my  present 
convenience,  and  to  promise  a  scale  of  prices  on  a  par 
with  its  external  appearance,  I  entered  boldly,  and 
seated  myself  at  the  dining-table.  I  noticed,  as  I  went 
in,  that,  notwithstanding  the  poverty  without,  there 
was  abundance  within;  the  counter  being  literally 
overcharged  with  French  pastry,  a  variety  of  ingenious 
culinary  preparations,  and  some  foreign  liquors. 

"  After  I  had  finished  my  repast,  consisting  of  a 
beef-steak,  two  eggs,  and  a  couple  of  cups  of  coffee,  I 
prepared  to  depart.  I  specify  the  items  of  which  my 
repast  was  made  up,  because  of  the  price  I  paid  for 
them — namely,  two  dollars  and  a  half.  I  was  informed, 
on  hazarding  an  observation  respecting  the  amount, 
that  the  charges  were  excessively  moderate,  anything 
in  the  shape  of  a  dinner  being  usually  charged  one 
dollar  and  fifty  cents ;  half  a  dollar  each  for  the  eggs, 
which  were  extras,  was  only  a  reasonable  price  for 
such  luxuries,  as  they  frequently  sold  for  double.  I 
considered  the  information  thus  obtained  to  be  cheap, 
of  its  kind,  and  went  away  with  a  mental  reservation 
not  to  eat  any  more  eggs  in  California,  unless  they 
were  of  another  description  than  the  golden  ones. 

"  As  I  repassed  the  'Parker  House,'  the  hotel,  par 
excellence,  of  San  Francisco,  I  went  in,  knowing  that, 
like  all  similar  establishments,  there  were  the  usual 
amusements  going  on  within. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


97 


"  This  is  not  only  the  largest,  but  the  handsomest 
building  in  San  Francisco  ;  and,  having  been  con 
structed  at  enormous  expense,  and  entirely  on  specula 
tion,  a  concurrence  of  fortunate  circumstances  alone, 
such  as  had  followed  upon  the  discovery  of  the  gold 
mines,  could  have  insured  its  prosperity.  It  was  now 
one  of  the  most  frequented,  fashionable,  and  firmly 
established  hotels  in  the  country  ;  and,  in  so  far  as  it 
presented  a  model  to  the  builders  and  settlers  in  the 
town,  was  a  signal  illustration  of  the  shrewdness  and 
enterprise  of  the  Yankee  character,  and  a  standing 
credit  to  the  projectors  and  proprietors. 

"  It  is  built  entirely  of  wood,  and  contains  two  very 
spacious  principal  rooms ;  the  one  a  dining-room,  the 
other  set  apart  for  billiards.  Besides  these,  there  are 
three  saloons  of  lesser  dimensions,  especially  devoted 
to  gambling,  and  two  well  supplied  bars — one  below, 
to  the  right  of  the  entry,  the  other  in  the  billiard- 
room.  The  portion  of  the  hotel  that  is  not  set  apart 
for  the  usual  offices  and  conveniences  is  divided  off 
into  innumerable  chambers,  which  are  occupied  by  the 
superior  classes  of  emigrants — lawyers,  doctors,  money- 
brokers,  cum  multis  aliis. 

"  The  saloon  contains  two  very  handsome  billiard- 
tables,  which  are  constantly  occupied  by  players, 
chiefly  Americans,  some  of  them  of  first-rate  excel 
lence.  The  charge  was  a  dollar  per  game  of  a  hundred, 
and  they  wero  no  sooner  vacated  by  one  party  than 
another  came  in. 

"  The  establishment  contained  nine  gambling-tables, 
which  were  crowded  day  and  night,  by  the  citizens 
and  the  miners ;  many  of  the  latter  staking  very  large 
sums  upon  the  turn  of  a  card.  The  stakes,  however, 
varied  from  twenty-five  cents  to  five  thousand  dollars ; 


98  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

and  the  excitement  of  some  of  the  losers  was  frequently 
fearful  to  contemplate,.  Some  who  gained  largely 
prudently  withdrew ;  and  I  was  informed  that,  a  few 
days  previously  to  my  arrival,  a  new-comer  from  the 
States,  who  was  bound  for  the  mines,  having  come 
into  the  s.aloon,  and  tried  his  fortune  at  the  monte 
tables,  luckily  made  twenty  thousand  dollars,  with 
which  he  returned  home,  by  the  steamer,  two  days 
afterwards. 

"The  <  Golden  Eagle/  (I'Aguila  d'Oro)  is  another 
gambling  establishment,  situated  in  one  of  the  streets 
leading  into  the  Plaza.  It  is  a  canvas  house,  about 
fifty  feet  square,  fitted  up  with  the  requisites  for  play, 
and  let  out  by  the  proprietor  at  the  rate  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  a  month.  Every  available  spot  around 
the  tables  was  crowded  to  inconvenience  by  persons 
who  were  engaged  deeply  in  the  game,  the  majority 
standing  up  and  watching  the  chances  with  counte 
nances  betokening  the  greatest  excitement. 

"  I  now  proceeded  to  the  City  Hotel,  a  large  but 
somewhat  antiquated  building,  constructed  of  adobe7 
after  the  Spanish  fashion,  but  hybridized  by  American 
improvements.  The  interior  was  even  more  insuffer 
able  than  the  El  Dorado,  in  respect  of  the  boisterous- 
ness  of  its  frequenters.  In  the  first  room  that  I 
entered  were  five  gambling-tables,  doing  a  '  smashing 
business' — a  term  employed,  somewhat  in  contradic 
tion  to  its  import,  to  denote  prosperity.  The  majority 
of  the  players  were  Americans  and  other  foreigners, 
intermixed  with  a  goodly  number  of  Spaniards  of  the 
lowest  order.  There  was  the  same  excitement,  the 
same  recklessness,  and  the  same  trickery  here,  as  at 
the  other  gambling  saloons,  only  infinitely  more  noise 
an.d  smoke,  and  swearing  and  inebriety. 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


99 


"  Here  I  met  with  another  of  the  volunteers,  who 
proposing  a  walk,  we  went  out  together,  and  proceeded 
to  the  Plaza,  I  found  a  good  many  old  acquaintances 
set  up  in  business  at  this  spot ;  one,  who  had  been  a 
captain,  had  recently  turned  money-broker,  and  now 
kept  an  office  for  the  exchange  of  coin  and  gold-dust, 
having  entered  into  partnership  with  a  highly  respect 
able  and  agreeable  individual,  of  active  business  habits, 
who  promised  to  prove  a  great  acquisition  to  the  con 
cern. 

"We  soon  reached  a  low,  long,  adobe  building, 
situated  at  the  upper  side  of  the  square,  and  which 
my  companion  told  me  was  the  Custom  House.  To 
the  right  of  the  Plaza  stood  the  Saint  Charles's 
Hotel,  a  wooden  edifice  covered  in  with  canvas,  and 
the  Peytona  House,  an  establishment  of  a  similar 
description,  in  both  of  which  we  did  not  fail  to  find 
the  usual  games  carried  on. 

"  The  streets  leading  down  to  the  water-side  contain 
comparatively  few  hotels  or  eating-houses,  they  being 
chiefly  wood  and  canvas  trading-stores.  I  observed 
amongst  them  several  newly  opened  auction  and  com 
mission-rooms,  where  goods  were  being  put  up,  recom 
mended  and  knocked  down  in  true  Yankee  style.  An 
immense  number  of  wooden  frame-houses  in  course  of 
erection  met  our  view  in  every  direction ;  and  upon 
remarking  that  many  of  them  appeared  to  have  been 
purposely  left  incomplete,  I  ascertained  that  this  arose 
from  the  extreme  difficulty  of  procuring  lumber,  which, 
on  account  of  its  scarcity,  occasionally  fetched  an  in 
credibly  high  price.  A  good  deal  of  it  is  brought 
from  Oregon,  and  some  from  South  America.  Many 
of  the  larger  houses,  but  far  inferior,  notwithstanding, 
to  such  of  the  same  kind  as  could  easily  be  procured 


100  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

in  New  York  at  a  rental  of  from  300  to  400  dollars 
a-year,  cost  here  at  least  10,000  dollars  to  build  tliem, 
the  lots  on  which  they  were  erected  being  valued  at 
sums  varying  from  30,000  to  50,000  dollars,  according 
to  the  locality.  Many  spots  of  ground,  just  large 
enough  for  a  small  trading-house  or  a  tent  to  stand 
upon,  let  at  from  1200  to  2000  dollars. 

"  Amongst  the  various  emigrants  who  daily  flocked 
into  the  city — for  each  day  brought  its  fresh  arrivals 
— were  numerous  Chinese,  and  a  very  considerable 
number  of  Frenchmen,  from  the  Sandwhich  Islands 
and  from  South  America.  The  former  had  been 
consigned,  with  houses  and  merchandise,  to  certain 
Americans  in  San  Francisco,  to  whom  they  were 
bound  by  contract,  as  laborers,  to  work  at  a  scale  of 
wages  very  far  below  the  average  paid  to  mechanics 
and  others  generally.  The  houses  they  brought  with 
them  from  China,  and  which  they  set  up  where  they 
were  wanted,  were  infinitely  superior  and  more  sub 
stantial  than  those  erected  by  the  Yankees,  being 
built  chiefly  of  logs  of  wood,  or  scantling,  from  six  to 
eight  inches  in  thickness,  placed  one  on  the  top  of  the 
other,  to  form  the  front,  rear,  and  sides  ;  whilst  the 
roofs  were  constructed  on  an  equally  simple  and  inge 
nious  plan,  and  were  remarkable  for  durability. 

"  These  Chinese  had  all  the  air  of  men  likely  to 
prove  good  citizens,  being  quiet,  inoffensive,  and  par 
ticularly  industrious.  I  once  went  into  an  eating- 
house,  kept  by  one  of  these  people,  and  was  astonished 
at  the  neat  arrangement  and  cleanliness  of  the  place, 
the  excellence  of  the  table,  and  moderate  charges.  It 
was  styled  the  4  Canton  Restaurant ;'  and  so  thoroughly 
Chinese  was  it  in  its  appointments,  and  in  the  manner 
of  service,  that  one  might  have  easily  fancied  one's 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  101 

self  in  the  heart  of  the  Celestial  Empire.  The  bar 
keeper — though  he  spoke  excellent  English — was  a 
Chinese,  as  were  also  the  attendants.  Every  article 
that  was  sold,  even  of  the  most  trifling  kind,  was  set 
down,  in  Chinese  characters,  as  it  was  disposed  of; 
it  being  the  duty  of  one  of  the  waiters  to  attend  to 
this  department.  This  he  did  very  cleverly  and 
quickly,  having  a  sheet  of  paper  for  the  purpose,  on 
which  the  article  and  the  price  were  noted  down  in 
Chinese  characters,  by  means  of  a  long,  thin  brush, 
moistened  in  a  solution  of  Indian  or  Chinese  ink.  As 
I  had  always  been  given  to  understand  that  these 
people  were  of  dirty  habits,  I  feel  it  only  right  to 
state  that  I  was  delighted  with  the  cleanliness  of  this 
place,  and  am  gratified  to  be  able  to  bear  testimony 
to  the  injustice  of  such  a  sweeping  assertion. 

"As  for  the  French,  they  seemed  entirely  out  of 
their  element  in  this  Yankee  town ;  and  this  circum 
stance  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  when  the  climate  and 
the  habits  of  the  people  are  taken  into  consideration, 
and  also  the  strange  deficiencies  they  must  have 
observed  in  the  ordinary  intercourse  of  life  between 
the  citizens,  so  different  from  the  polished  address, 
common  even  amongst  the  peasantry  in  their  rudest 
villages ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  difficulty  of  carrying 
on  business  amongst  a  people  whose  language  they  did 
not  understand.  But  their  universal  goal  was  the 
mines  ;  and  to  the  mines  they  went,  with  very  few 
exceptions. 

"  Speaking  of  them  reminds  me  of  a  '  CafS  Restau 
rant,  in  San  Francisco,  kept  by  a  very  civil  French 
man,  and  situated  on  the  way  to  the  Point.  I  mention 
it,  because  I  one  day  made  here  the  most  uncomfort 
able  repast  it  had  ever  been  my  lot  to  sit  down  to. 

9* 


102  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Yet  this  was  not  owing  to  any  lack  of  attention  on  the 
part  of  the  proprietor,  to  any  inferiority  in  the  quality 
of  his  provisions,  or  to  any  deficiency  of  culinary  skill 
in  their  preparation ;  but  simply  to  the  prevalence  of 
the  pest  to  which  I  have  already  alluded  as  invading 
my  own  tent,  namely,  the  dust.  The  house  was  built 
chiefly  of  wood,  and  had  a  canvas  roof,  but  this  was 
insufficient  to  keep  out  the  impalpable  particles  with 
which  the  air  was  charged,  and  which  settled  upon 
and  insinuated  themselves  into  every  article  in  the 
place.  There  was  dust  on  the  counter,  on  the  shelves, 
on  the  seats,  on  the  decanters,  and  in  them ;  on  the 
tables,  in  the  salt,  on  my  beef-steak,  and  in  my  cofiee. 
There  was  dust  on  the  polite  landlord's  cheeks,  and  in 
his  amiable  wife's  eyes,  which  she  was  wiping  with  the 
corner  of  a  dusty  apron.  I  hurried  my  meal,  and 
was  paying  my  score,  when  I  caught  sight  of  my  own 
face  in  a  dusty-looking  and  dust-covered  glass  near 
the  bar,  and  saw  that  I  too  had  become  covered  with 
it,  rny  entire  person  being  literally  encrusted  with  a 
coat  of  powder,  from  which  I  experienced  considerable 
difficulty  in  cleansing  myself. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  I  had  seen  of  San  Francisco, 
there  yet  existed  here  a  world  apart,  that  I  should 
never  have  dreamed  of,  but  for  my  being  one  day 
called  upon  to  act  upon  a  jury  appointed  to  sit  in 
inquest  over  a  person  who  had  died  there.  This  place 
was  called  the  '  Happy  Valley.' 

"  Previously  to  our  repairing  thither,  we  attended 
at  the  court-house,  to  take  the  usual  oath.  Proceed 
ing  then  through  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  we 
reached  the  beach,  along  which,  by  the  water-side,  we 
walked  for  a  distance  of  three  miles — up  to  our  ancles 
in  mud  and  sand — until  we  came  to  a  spot  where  there 


i 
• —  ^_J 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


103 


•were  innumerable  tents  pitched,  of  all  sizes,  forms,  and 
descriptions,  forming  an  irregular  line  stretching  along 
the  shore  for  about  two  miles. 

"  The  ground  was,  of  course,  low,  damp,  and  muddy ; 
and  the  niost-unmistakeable  evidences  of  discomfort, 
misery,  and  sickness,  met  our  view  on  every  side,  for 
the  locality  was  one  of  the  unwholesomest  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  town.  Yet  here,  to  avoid  the  payment 
of  enormous  ground-rents,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
combine  the  ad  vantage  of  cheap  living,  were  encamped 
the  major  portion  of  the  most  recently  arrived  emi 
grants,  and,  amongst  the  rest,  those  of  the  ship 
Brooklyn,  on  one  of  the  passengers  of  which  the  in 
quest  was  about  to  be  held. 

"This,  then,  was  the  'Happy  Valley ;'  a  term  no 
doubt  applied  to  it  in  derision,  taking  into  considera 
tion  the  squalor,  the  discomfort,  the  filth,  the  misery, 
and  the  distress  that  were  rife  there. 

"I  am  satisfied  that  much  of  the  crime  and  lawless 
ness  that  is  prevalent  in  California — particularly  in 
towns  like  San  Francisco,  where  the  ruder  sex  are 
congregated  exclusively  and  in  large  multitudes — is 
attributable  to  the  want  of  the  humanizing  presence  of 
women.  In  San  Francisco  there  were  about  ten 
thousand  males,  and  scarcely  a  hundred  females  ;  for, 
although  in  many  parts  of  California  the  latter  out 
number  the  former,  the  national  prejudice  against 
color  was  too  strong  for  legitimate  amalgamation  to 
take  place." 

Such  was  San  Francisco  soon  after  the  discovery 
of  the  riches  of  the  Sacramento  region.  From  an 
insignificant  settlement,  sometimes  the  resort  of 
whaling-vessels,  and  of  a  few  traders,  it  was  quickly 
transferred  into  a  city,  with  an  extensive  and  con- 


104  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

stantly  increasing  commerce.  In  its  streets  and 
squares,  erected  where,  just  before,  was  a  desert 
plain,  people  of  almost  every  nation  were  seen  busily 
engaged  in  traffic,  or  preparing  for  departure  to  the 
gold  region.  It  seemed  the  work  of  the  enchanter. 

Although,  like  San  Francisco,  Monterey  was  almost 
deserted  by  its  inhabitants  upon  the  receipt  of  informa 
tion  of  the  gold  discovery,  it  soon  began  to  give  signs 
of  improvement.  The  bay,  upon  the  shore  of  which 
the  town  is  located,  is  more  exposed  to  the  swell  of 
the  sea,  and  to  the  north-west  storms,  than  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  and  therefore  the  harbor  is  inferior. 
Yet  Monterey  received  a  considerable  share  of  the  tide 
of  emigration.  Those  who  stopped  there  were  gener 
ally  persons  who  intended  to  make  a  permanent 
settlement,  and  engage  in  mercantile  pursuits  ;  and, 
therefore,  though  the  increase  of  the  town  was  not  so 
rapid  as  that  of  San  Francisco,  it  carried  with  it  more 
denotements  of  stability. 

The  town  is  situated  on  a  short  bend  near  the  en 
trance  of  the  bay,  upon  its  southern  side.  The  point 
of  land  which  partly  protects  its  harbor  from  the  sea 
is  called  Point  Pinos.  A  very  neat  and  pretty  appear 
ance  is  presented  by  the  houses  of  the  native  Califor- 
nians,  which  are  generally  constructed  of  adobes  and 
white-plastered.  Those  of  the  Americans  are  easily 
distinguished  by  their  being  built  of  logs  and  planks, 
and  presenting  a  more  substantial,  but  rougher  appear 
ance.  The  town  is  surrounded  by  hills,  covered  with 
lofty  pine  trees.  Upon  a  height  which  overlooks  the 
town  and  harbor,  a  fort  was  built  by  the  Americans 
during  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  a  military  force  con 
tinued  there  till  after  the  treaty  of  peace. 

The  country  in  the  neighborhood  of  Monterey  is 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  105 

fertile,  and  yields  ample  reward  to  the  agriculturist. 
There  would,  therefore,  be  no  lack  of  supplies  of  pro 
visions,  but  for  the  indolence  of  the  Californians, 
owning  the  different  ranches  in  the  surrounding  coun 
try.  From  this  cause,  great  scarcity  of  provisions  of 
all  kinds  is  often  the  result.  Notwithstanding  the 
additions  made  by  Yankee  enterprise  and  innovation, 
the  general  manners  and  customs  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Monterey  retain  all  their  old  Spanish  character  ; 
and  some  of  the  customs  of  the  natives,  particularly 
their  amusements,  are  heartily  joined  in  by  the  more 
susceptible  of  the  new-comers.  The  fandango  and 
the  serenade  with  the  guitar,  still  hold  their  sway  as 
freely  and  as  undisturbed  as  in  old  Spain.  The  win 
ters  are  severely  felt  here.  The  rain  causes  torrents 
of  water  to  pour  down  from  the  hills  in  the  rear  of  the 
town,  deluging  the  principal  streets,  and  rendering 
their  passage  almost  impossible.  During  this  period, 
the  only  resort  of  the  inhabitants  for  passing  away  the 
time  is  the  vice  of  gambling,  in  which  they  early 
become  adepts.  This  gambling  propensity,  noticed 
among  the  Californians,  induced  a  considerable  num 
ber  of  the  initiated  to  emigrate  from  the  United  States, 
and  Monterey  received  a  goodly  proportion  of  them. 
Such  an  increase  of  the  population,  however,  could 
not  be  considered  desirable.  Upon  the  whole,  though 
in  a  less  degree,  the  effect  of  the  golden  attractions 
of  California  could  be  seen  at  Monterey  as  at  San 
Fran-cisco.  Though  it  did  not  spring  at  once  from  a 
small  settlement  to  a  large  city,  it  was  considerably 
improved,  and  in  1849,  it  numbered  more  than  a 
thousand  inhabitants. 

A  short  distance  south  of  Monterey,  is  the  town  of 
Santa  Barbara.     Its  situation   is   one  of  the  most 


106 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


beautiful  in  California.  It  is  built  upon  a  plain  ten 
miles  in  extent.  In  front  is  a  broad  bay,  having  a 
smooth  beach  of  nearly  thirty  miles  in  extent.  On 
the  right,  towards  the  water,  is  a  lofty  eminence  rising 
nearly  a  thousand  feet.  Directly  back  of  the  town  is 
a  range  of  almost  impassable  hills,  running  in  a  diago 
nal  direction.  There  is  no  harbor  in  the  bay,  and 
vessels  are  obliged  to  anchor  in  an  open  roadstead; 
and  when  the  south-east  winds  prevail,  they  are  in 
constant  peril. 

The  progress  of  the  town  was  not  much  affected  by 
the  gold  mania.  But  though  it  offers  no  attractions 
for  mercantile  or  gold  digging  purposes,  it  has  others 
which  will,  no  doubt,  make  it  a  favorite  place  of  resi 
dence.  In  1849,  it  contained  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  houses,  built  of  adobes,  and  all  one  story  in  height. 
The  town  is  celebrated  for  being  the  residence  of  the 
aristocracy  of  California,  and  for  its  beautiful  women. 
Its  inhabitants  are  principally  rancheros,  who  visit 
their  ranches  two  or  three  times  in  a  year  to  see  to 
the  marking  and  killing  of  their  cattle,  and  then 
spend  the  remainder  of  the  year  in  the  town,  enjoying 
life  as  much  as  possible.  Indolence  is  the  general 
vice.  A  horse  to  ride,  plenty  to  eat,  and  cigaros  to 
smoke  constitute  their  summum  bonum.  Santa 
Barbara  is  more  celebrated  for  its  fandangos  than 
any  other  town  on  the  coast.  These  are  open  to  all 
coiners,  and  constitute  the  general  pastime  of  an  even 
ing.  The  climate  is  mild  and  spring-like,  and,  inde 
pendent  of  the  attractions  in  the  town,  the  surrounding 
country  offers  many  of  the  most  beautiful  rides  in 
California.  About  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  at 
the  top  of  a  gentle  slope,  is  the  mission  of  Santa 
Barbara,  with  its  old,  white  walls  and  cross-mounted 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


107 


spires.  The  presiding  priest  of  California  resides 
there,  and  a  number  of  the  converted  Indians  still 
remain  and  cultivate  the  surrounding  soil.  The  mis 
sion  is  in  a  better  condition  than  any  other  in  the 
country. 

Ciudad  de  los  Angeles,  or  the  City  of  the  Angels, 
is  situated  a  hundred  and  ten  miles  south  of  Santa 
Barbara,  at  the  end  of  an  immense  plain,  extending 
from  the  city  twenty-five  miles,  to  San  Pedro,  its  port. 
This  is  the  garden  spot  of  California.  Before  the 
discovery  of  the  gold  mines,  the  City  of  the  Angels 
was  the  largest  town  in  the  country.  It  contains  about 
two  thousand  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  are  wealthy 
rancJieros,  who  dwell  there  to  cultivate  the  grape.  As 
in  all  the  towns  of  California,  the  houses  are  con 
structed  of  adobes  and  covered  with  asphaltum,  which 
is  found  in  great  quantities  near  the  town.  The 
northern  section  is  laid  out  in  streets,  and  is  occupied 
by  the  trading  citizens  ;  the  southern  section  is  made 
up  of  gardens,  vinyards  and  orchards,  which  are  made 
extremely  productive  by  irrigating  the  soil  with  the 
water  of  a  large  stream  running  through  them.  Many 
acres  of  ground  are  covered  with  vines,  which,  being 
trimmed  every  year,  are  kept  about  six  feet  in  height. 
In  the  fall  of  the  year,  these  vines  arc  burdened  with 
rich  clusters  of  grapes  ;  and,  in  addition  to  these, 
great  quantities  of  fruit  of  various  kinds  arc  raised. 
The  surrounding  country  abounds  with  game  of  all 
kinds.  In  the  rainy  season,  millions  of  ducks  and 
geese  cover  the  plains  between  Los  Angeles  and  San 
Pedro,  while  the  neighboring  hills  abound  with  quails, 
doer,  elk,  and  antelope.  The  vineyards  produce  such 
quantities  of  grapes,  that  many  thousand  barrels  of 
v.lne  and  aguardiente — the  brandy  of  the  country — 


108 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


are  annually  manufactured.  The  wine  is  of  various 
kinds ;  some  of  it  being  equal  to  the  best  produced  in 
Europe.* 

The  inhabitants  of  the  City  of  the  Angels,  being 
generally  of  the  wealthy  class  of  Californians,  have 
always  strongly  adhered  to  the  institutions  of  Mexico. 
They  offered  the  most  strenuous  resistance  to  the 
American  forces  at  the  time  of  the  conquest  of  Cali 
fornia,  but  were  vanquished  in  two  battles,  and  the 
city  taken.  All  the  customs  and  amusements  peculiar 
to  the  Spaniards  and  the  countries  which  they  colo 
nized,  are  here  in  full  vogue.  Music,  dancing,  sing 
ing,  slaughtering  cattle,  or  gambling,  are  the  usual 
pastimes  of  the  inhabitants.  Yet,  with  these  trifling 
occupations,  attachment  to  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
and  a  careful  observance  of  its  ceremonies,  is  charac 
teristic  of  all.  Upon  the  tolling  of  the  bell,  gaming, 
swearing,  dancing — every  thing  is  stopped  while  the 
prescribed  prayer  is  muttered,  and  then  all  go  on  as 
before. 

Though  Los  Angeles  did  not  experience  any  increase 
of  population  consequent  upon  the  flood  of  emigration 
to  California,  its  delightful  climate  and  its  fertile  soil 
are  gradually  procuring  it  such  consideration  as  will 
doubtless  lead  to  the  filling  up  of  the  surrounding 
country. 

San  Diego  is  the  most  southern  town  of  Upper 
California.  It  is  situated  on  the  coast,  three  miles 
north  of  the  line  separating  Upper  and  Lower  Califor 
nia.  The  harbor  is  inferior  only  to  that  of  San  Fran 
cisco.  It  is  perfectly  sheltered  by  land  from  the  gales 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Vessels  can  lie  within  a 
cable's  length  of  the  beach,  there  being  no  surf  run 
ning  upon  it.  The  town  is  situated  about  three  miles 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


109 


from  the  beach,  and  is  about  the  same  size  as  Santa 
Barbara.  It  is  a  place  of  far  greater  facilities  and 
promise,  however,  than  the  last  mentioned  town.  San 
Diego  has  always  been  the  most  important  depot  for 
hides,  upon  the  coast ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  an 
extensive  inland  trade  will  be  carried  on  between  it 
and  the  towns  in  the  interior,  as  the  region  of  the 
Colorado  and  the  Gila  becomes  settled.  Since  the 
conquest  of  Upper  California  and  the  discovery  of  the 
gold,  the  progress  of  the  town  has  been  rapid.  From 
being  an  inconsiderable  settlement  sustained  princi 
pally  by  a  mission,  which  had  early  been  established 
there,  it  has  become  a  town  of  great  commercial 
promise.  The  climate  being  mild  and  pleasant,  and 
the  surrounding  country  abounding  in  game  and 
adapted  for  grazing,  thus  making  provisions  abundant, 
San  Diego  is  a  very  desirable  place  of  residence. 

The  town  of  San  Josd  is  situated  in  a  fertile  valley,, 
near  the  most  southern  extremity  of  the  Bay  of  San 
Francisco.  On  the  south  of  the  town  runs  a  small 
stream,  and  the  place  is  surrounded  by  plains,  afford 
ing  fine  pasturage.  Being  situated  on  the  direct 
route  from  the  southern  ports  to  the  gold  mines,  San 
Jose'  received  a  considerable  stimulus  from  their  dis 
covery.  A  profitable  trade  was  soon  established,  and 
the  town  improved  very  rapidly.  It  is  now  a  town  of 
about  four  thousand  inhabitants,  and  the  increase  still 
continues  rapid.  In  a  greater  degree  than  any  of  tho 
older  towns  of  California,  it  has  all  the  evidence  of  a 
thriving  and  progressive  place.  The  greater  part  of 
the  buildings  are  constructed  in  a  style  which  shows 
the  inroads  of  the  taste  of  the  people  from  the  Atlantic 
States.  A  number  of  Mormons  settled  here  at  an 
early  period,  and  built  a  great  many  neat  wooden 
10 


110  HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 

houses  and  cottages,  which  contrast  favorably  with 
the  heavy  old  adobes  residences  of  the  native  inhabit 
ants.  Flour  and  saw-mills  have  been  erected, 
but  the  scarcity  of  water  is  severely  felt  by  their  pro 
prietors. 

San  Jose*  in  respect  to  climate  and  general  abun 
dance  of 'the  necessaries  and  luxuries  of  life,  is  one 
of  the  most  desirable  places  of  residence  in  California. 
Though  situated  a  short  distance  inland,  and  thus 
deprived  of  the  facilities  wiiich  contributed  to  the 
rapid  growth  of  San  Francisco,  the  fertile  plain  sur 
rounding  it,  and  the  increase  of  the  inland  trade  and 
travel  will  draw  to  the  town  and  its  neighborhood  a 
thriving,  business  population.  /The  old  mission  of 
San  Josd  is  situated  about  ten  miles  from  the  town. 
The  establishment  and  the  grounds  belonging  to  it  are 
in  a  state  of  decay.  The  population  there  is  about 
three  hundred  in  number,  most  of  whom  are  Indians, 
and  all  of  them  in  a  degraded  condition. 

The  emigration  to  the  gold  region  caused  many 
towns  to  spring  up,  as  if  by  magic,  in  its  neighborhood, 
and  on  the  route  to  it  from  San  Francisco.  These 
were  principally  the  stopping  places  of  the  gold-seekers, 
or  the  seat  of  a  trade  in  provisions  and  articles  manu 
factured  in  the  States  and  transported  thither.  Some 
of  these  towns  have  become  of  a  size  sufficient  to  war 
rant  the  assertion  that  they  will  soon  rival  the  cities 
of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States.  The  pro 
gress  of  these  places  is  aided  by  the  enormous  price 
of  real  estate  in  San  Francisco. 

One  of  the  most  promising  of  the  new  town  3  is  called 
Benicia.  It  is  situated  on  the  Strait  of  Carquinez, 
thirty-live  miles  north  of  San  Francisco.  The  strait 
forms  the  entrance  of  Suisan  into  Pablo  Bay.  The 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


Ill 


site  of  Benicia  is  a  gentle  slope,  which,  descending  to 
the  water,  becomes  almost  a  plain.  Vessels  of  the 
first  class  can  lie  at  anchor  at  its  bank,  and  discharge 
their  cargoes,  and  the  harbor  is  safe  from  violent 
winds.  The  town  has  been  made  the  head-quarters  of  the 
Pacific  division  of  the  United  States  army,  and  a  site 
for  a  navy-yard  has  been  selected  by  Commodore  Jones. 
The  marks  of  governmental  favor  show  in  what  estima 
tion  the  position  of  Benicia  is  held.  The  town  was 
laid  out  in  1848,  by  Robert  Semple  and  Thomas  0; 
Larkin.  Early  in  1850,  lots  were  selling  at  very  high 
rates,  and  the  population  numbered  more  than  a 
thousand  persons. 

Between  Benicia  and  Sacramento  city,  several  towns 
have  been  laid  out,  all  in  very  favorable  positions. 
The  principal  are — Martinez,  on  the  southern  shore  of 
the  strait  of  Carquinez,  nearly  opposite  Benicia ;  New 
York  of  the  Pacific,  at  the  junction  of  the  River  San 
Joaquin  with  the  Bay  of  Suisan;  Suisan,  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Sacramento,  at  a  distance  of  eighty  miles 
from  San  Francisco. 

Next  to  San  Francisco,  Sacramento  is  the  largest 
city  in  California.  It  is  situated  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Sacramento  River,  one  hundred  miles  from  San 
Francisco,  and  sixty-five  from  Suisan  Bay.  It  is 
located  on  a  beautiful  plain,  which  is  not  elevated  more 
than  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  river  at  low  water. 
This  being  insufficient  to  protect  it  from  the  rise  of 
the  waters  of  the  river,  several  disastrous  floods  have 
occurred  during  the  existence  of  the  city.  Up  to  this 
point,  the  river  is  navigable  for  large  class  steamers. 
Ships  drawing  not  more  than  twelve  feet  of  water  may 
go  up  that  far  at  all  seasons ;  and,  besides  these 
commercial  advantages,  Sacramento  is  the  natural 


f 

112  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


trading  depot  for  the  richest  portion  of  the  mining 
regions. 

Where  the  city  of  Sacramento  now  stands,  at  the 
time  of  the  gold  discovery,  there  stood,  "  solitary  and 
alone,"  a  small  fort.  This  formed  the  nucleus,  about 
which,  at  the  commencement  of  the  rush  of  emigra 
tion,  the  town  soon  sprang  into  existence.  Its  increase 
has  been  almost  as  rapid  as  that  of  San  Francisco. 
During  the  rainy  season  of  the  early  part  of  1850, 
the  population  numbered  somewhere  between  twenty 
and  thirty  thousand.  But  at  that  poriod,  a  consider 
able  portion  of  the  gold-diggers  made  Sacramento  and 
the  other  towns  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  mines, 
their  resort,  to  escape  the  severity  of  spending  the 
season  at  the  open  and  exposed  valleys  of  the  gold 
region.  The  city  is  regularly  laid  out,  but  its  appear 
ance  evidences  the  rapidity  of  its  erection.  The 
greater  number  of  the  houses  and  stores  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  river  are  constructed  of  wood,  while 
the  outskirts,  particularly  upon  the  south,  are  occupied 
by  the  tents  of  the  constantly-arriving  overland  emi 
grants.  Before  the  commencement  of  the  last  rainy 
season,  the  number  of  these  emigrants  reached  two  or 
three  thousand.  They  squatted  upon  the  vacant  lots 
which  had  been  surveyed  and  sold  to  other  persons. 
This  caused  a  considerable  agitation  in  the  town,  which 
continued  till  the  disastrous  flood  swept  both  the  par 
ties  off  the  ground,  and  thus  left  the  field  clear  for 
another  commencement.  Sacramento  is  the  grand 
receptacle  of  the  overland  emigration,  and  this,  com 
bined  with  its  commercial  facilities,  will  continue  to 
give  the  city  a  superiority  over  the  majority  of  the 
other  places  in  California. 

Adjoining  Sacramento  city,  is  the  town  of  Sutter. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


as 


113 


It  is  situated  on  the  highest  and  healthiest  ground  on 
the  river.  It  is  not,  like  Sacramento,  subject  to  an 
annual  overflow.  The  town  was  originally  laid  out 
by  Captain  Sutter  and  others ;  and  is  owned  by  Hon. 
John  McDougall,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  California, 
and  Captain  Sutter.  It  has  a  thriving  business  popula 
tion,  and  its  position,  and  the  fertility  of  the  neigh 
boring  country  will  soon  make  it  a  place  of  import 
ance. 

Stockton  is  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  gold 
region  what  Sacramento  is  to  the  northern.  It  is 
situated  upon  a  slough,  or  a  succession  of  sloughs,  con 
taining  the  back  waters  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  Rivers.  It  is  about 
fifty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  San  Joaquin,  and 
one  hundred  from  San  Francisco.  The  ground  upon 
which  it  is  situated  is  high  and  is  not  subject  to  over 
flow.  Vessels  drawing  nine  feet  water  can  ascend  the 
San  Joaquin  as  far  as  Stockton,  and  discharge  their 
cargoes  on  the  bank.  In  the  latter  part  of  1848,  the 
town  was  laid  out  and  a  frame  building  erected  by 
Charles  M.  Weber.  In  eight  months  from  that  time, 
it  contained  a  population  of  about  two  thousand  per 
manent  residents,  and  a  large  number  of  temporary 
residents,  on  their  road  to  the  mines.  Communication 
is  with  San  Francisco  by  means  of  steamboats  and 
launches,  and  the  commerce  of  the  town  is  constantly 
increasing. 

Other  towns  exist — on  paper — in  the  neighborhood 
of  San  Francisco  and  the  gold  region,  and,  doubtless, 
they  will,  in  the  course  of  time,  become  settled  by  a 
thriving,  go-ahead  population  from  the  Atlantic  States. 
Land  speculation  in  California  is  as  profitable  a 
business  as  gold-digging — and  less  toilsome.  Many  of 
10* 


114  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  shrewd  ones,  who  early  took  advantage  of  this 
"  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,"  have  already  reached  the 
goal  of  their  hopes,  an  independent  fortune.  Those 
who  saw  how  things  would  turn  out,  and  purchased 
land  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  region  which  promised 
to  receive  the  principal  current  of  the  emigration  to 
California,  found  themselves  wealthy  in  the  short 
space  of  a  few  months. 

The  great  influx  of  emigrants  to  Upper  California 
has  brought  the  subject  of  the  settlement  of  the  penin 
sula  into  consideration.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that 
Lower  California  will,  sooner  or  later,  become  the 
property  of  the  United  States,  and  then  its  settlement 
and  progress  will  be  rapid.  The  coast  upon  the  gulf 
affords  many  excellent  harbors,  and  the  mountainous 
region  of  the  interior  gives  abundant  evidence  of 
mineral  wealth,  as  far  as  it  has  been  explored.  Several 
silver  mines  have  been  opened  in  different  places,  the 
principal  of  which  are  at  San  Antonio,  between  La 
Paz  and  Cape  San  Lucas.  Near  Loretto,  the  first 
settlement  in  California,  extensive  copper  mines  have 
been  opened,  and  lead  and  iron  abound  in  all  direc 
tions.  The  pearl  fishery  of  the  gulf  has  already 
yielded  an  enormous  wealth,  having  been  prosecuted 
from  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  peninsula.  The 
fishing  season  lasts  from  May  till  November,  and 
more  than  a  hundred  vessels  are  yearly  engaged  in 
the  business.  These  resources,  despite  the  general 
unfitness  of  the  country  for  agricultural  purposes,  will 
soon  attract  their  full  share  of  consideration,  and 
cause  an  influx  of  emigrants  and  adventurers  from  the 
United  States  and  other  countries.  Some  portions 
of  the  country  are  susceptible  of  irrigation,  and 
might  thus  be  rendered  fit  for  cultivation. 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA.  115 

The  principal  port  of  Lower  California  is  La  Paz, 
situated  near  the  mouth  of  the  gulf.  The  bay  on  the 
shore  of  which  the  town  is  located,  is  of  great  extent 
and  beauty,  and  possesses  a  large  number  of  rich 
pearl  oyster-beds — the  pearl  fishery  having  at  one 
time  supplied  the  chief  article  of  traffic  on  this  part 
of  the  coast.  The  country  around  the  bay  is  elevated 
and  picturesque,  though  rugged;  the  soil  being  com 
posed  principally  of  rock  and  sand,  wildly  and  irre 
gularly  covered  with  the  most  prickly  species  of 
stunted  bushes  and  shrubs  of  sunburnt  hue.  The 
town  of  La  Paz  is  neatly  built  and  presents  a  pretty 
appearance.  The  streets  are  lined  with  willow  trees, 
and  these  meeting  overhead,  form  a  delicious  shade 
during  the  heat  of  the  day.  The  houses  are  all  con 
structed  of  adobes,  plastered  white,  and  thatched  with 
the  leaves  of  the  palm  tree.  The  beach  is  lined  with 
palms,  cocoa-nut,  fig  and  tamarind  trees.  La  Paz 
was  taken  by  the  American  volunteers  during  the 
war  with  Mexico,  and  considerable  destruction  of  the 
orchards,  gardens  and  houses  of  the  town  was  the 
consequence.  The  harbor  offers  great  advantages  for 
a  naval  station,  and  such,  doubtless,  it  will  become. 

San  Jose*,  the  most  southern  town  of  Lower  Cali 
fornia,  is  situated  about  half-way  between  Cape  San 
Lucas  and  Cape  Palmo,  on  a  sort  of  desert  plain, 
extending  from  the  beautiful  valley  of  San  Josd  to  the 
ocean.  It  is  located  about  three  miles  from  the  beach, 
and  is  one  of  the  strangest  creations  in  the  shape  of  a 
town  imaginable. 

The  heavy  rains  and  freshets  which  occur  in  the 
wet  season,  in  this  region,  render  every  elevation  in 
valuable  as  a  preservative  against  the  dangers  of  sud 
den  inundations ;  hence  all  the  houses  are  built  upon 


116  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

steeps,  rocks,  and  hillocks,  necessarily  irrespective  of 
order ;  so  that,  even  in  the  most  densely  populated 
districts,  barren  hills,  as  yet  unoccupied  by  dwellings, 
are  frequently  to  be  met  with,  with  deep  hollows  in 
every  part,  converting  mere  visits  into  positive  enter 
prises,  in  most  instances  both  tedious  and  disagreeable. 
To  these  great  natural  disadvantages,  the  indolence 
of  the  inhabitants  has  added  others,  their  common 
practice  being  to  dig  for  adobe  clay  at  the  nearest 
convenient  spot,  namely,  for  the  most  part,  opposite 
their  own  doors  ;  thus,  one  would  imagine  that  the 
site  of  the  whole  town  had  been  visited  and  disturbed 
by  a  succession  of  miniature  earthquakes,  which,  whilst 
they  had  left  the  houses  themselves  unshaken,  had 
heaved  and  perched  them  up  in  the  most  uncomfort 
able  positions,  and  in  the  most  inaccessible  places.  In 
the  very  centre  of  the  principal  street,  which  appears 
to  have  once  upon  a  time  been  level,  are  three  or  four 
immense  clay-pits,  serving  as  a  receptacle  for  dead 
dogs,  cats,  bones,  vegetable  refuse,  and,  in  a  word, 
every  description  of  rubbish  and  nuisance  a  very  dirty 
population  can  convey  to  or  discharge  in  them. 

But  a  description  of  the  town  would  be  incomplete 
without  adding  that  it  is  dotted  about  in  these  hollows, 
and  in  the  sand-holes  in  the  rocks,  with  patches  of 
thorn,  brush,  and  cacti,  forming  a  singular  yet  refresh 
ing  contrast  with  the  general  barrenness  of  the  region 
itself,  the  whole  being  surrounded  by  a  bleak  moun 
tainous  range,  which  increases  in  elevation  until  it 
blends  with  the  clear  sky,  far  in  the  distance. 

The  principal,  indeed  the  only  regular  street  in 
the  town,  is  wide  and  long,  the  houses  being  con 
structed  of  adobes  and  cane,  thatched  with  palm  leaves. 
It  is  blocked  up  at  the  remoter  end  by  the  fort,  which 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  117 

stands  upon  a  wide  foundation  of  rock  of  considerable 
elevation ;  various  portions  of  the  adobS  walls  con 
necting  the  crags  having  been  pierced,  so  as  to  allow 
artillery  to  be  trained  through  the  embrasures,  whilst, 
in  other  parts,  there  are  numerous  loop-holes  for 
musketry.  There  are  some  very  awkward  cavities 
amongst  these  rocks,  produced  by  digging  for  clay  for 
the  adobe  work.  The  fort  is  flat-roofed  and  para- 
petted,  having  portholes  for  cannon;  and  below,  in 
the  very  centre  of  the  building,  occupying  about  a  third 
of  its  entire  length,  runs  a  thick  wall,  forming  a  cres 
cent,  well  mounted  with  heavy  guns.  At  the  end  of 
this  crescent,  between  it  and  the  front  wall,  is  the 
entrance  to  the  fort — a  mere  aperture,  barely  wide 
enough  to  allow  of  one  man's  passing  in. 

These  defences  proved  to  be  of  great  advantage  to 
a  small  party  of  Americans  that  landed  at  San  Jose*, 
during  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico, 
and  were  compelled  to  take  shelter  in  the  old  quartel, 
or  barracks.  There  they  were  surrounded  by  the 
Californians,  and  stood  a  siege  of  several  weeks', 
Buffering  incredible  hardships.  The  population  of  San 
Jose"  numbers  about  three  thousand,  the  majority  being 
semi-Indians,  or  the  pure  descendants  of  the  Mexicans. 
There  is  little  promise  of  any  considerable  increase  in 
the  size  of  the  town,  owing  to  the  natural  disadvan 
tages  of  situation. 

The  other  towns  of  Lower  California  are — San 
Antonio,  in  the  neighborhood  of  an  extensive  silver 
mine,  which  has  been  worked  for  a  long  time  with 
considerable  profit ;  Loreto,  on  the  gulf  coast,  about 
two  hundred  miles  north  of  La  Paz ;  San  Domingo 
and  Todos  Santos,  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  latter 
town  is  situated  on  the  bay  of  the  same  name,  and  is 


118  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  most  northerly  part  of  Lower  California.  The 
church  and  mission  buildings  at  this  place  are  the 
largest  and  most  imposing  structures  of  the  kind  in 
Lower  California.  The  church  has  a  handsome  front 
and  a  lofty  steeple.  The  mission  is  the  residence  of 
the  head  of  the  church  in  Lower  California.  There 
is  every  reason  to  believe,  that,  when  the  richer  por 
tions  of  Upper  California  begin  to  get  a  little  crowded, 
the  tide  of  emigration  will  be  turned  to  the  south,  and 
the  ports  of  the  peninsula  will  become  of  great  com 
mercial  importance.  Then,  if  not  before,  the  country 
will  become  the  property  of  the  United  States,  either 
by  way  of  purchase,  or  after  the  manner  of  Texas. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   FORMATION   OF   A   STATE   GOVERNMENT. 

THE  state  of  things  which  induced  the  people  of 
California  to  form  a  state  government  deserves  to  be 
fully  set  forth.  Their  condition  was  without  prece 
dent  in  history  ;  and  from  a  statement  of  that  condi 
tion,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  framing  of  a  constitution 
and  the  organization  of  a  state  government  was  the 
only  resource  of  the  Californians.  The  representations 
of  the  report  of  Thomas  Butler  King  to  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  will  not  be  contradicted, 
and  these  we  insert. 

"  The  discovery  of  the  gold  mines  had  attracted  a 
very  large  number  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  to 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


119 


to  that  territory,  who  had  never  been  accustomed  to 
any  other  than  American  law,  administered  by  Ameri 
can  courts.  There  they  found  their  rights  of  property 
and  person  subject  to  the  uncertain,  and  frequently 
most  oppressive,  operation  of.  laws  written  in  a  lan 
guage  they  did  not  understand,  and  founded  on  prin 
ciples,  in  many  respects,  new  to  them.  They  complained 
that  the  alcaldes,  or  judges,  most  of  whom  had  been 
appointed  or  elected  before  the  immigration  had  com 
menced,  were  not  lawyers  by  education  or  profession ; 
and,  being  Americans,  they  were,  of  course,  unac 
quainted  with  the  laws  of  Mexico,  or  the  principles  of 
the  civil  law  on  which  they  are  founded. 

"As  our  own  laws,  except  for  the  collection  of 
revenue,  the  transmission  of  the  mails,  and  establish 
ment  of  postoffices,  had  not  been  extended  over  that 
territory,  the  laws  of  Mexico,  as  they  existed  at  thp 
conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  regu 
lating  the  relations  of  the  inhabitants  of  California 
with  each  other,  necessarily  remained  in  force  ;*  yet, 
there  was  not  a  single  volume  containing  those  laws, 
as  far  as  I  know  or  believe,  in  the  whole  territory, 
except,  perhaps,  in  the  governor's  office  at  Monterey. 

"  The  magistrates,  therefore,  could  not  procure 
them,  and  the  administration  of  justice  was,  neces 
sarily,  as  unequal  and  fluctuating  as  the  opinions  of 
the  judges  were  conflicting  and  variable. 

"There  were  no  fee-bills  to  regulate  costs;  and, 
consequently,  the  most  cruel  exactions,  in  many  in 
stances,  were  practised. 

"  The  greatest  confusion  prevailed  respecting  titles 
to  property,  and  the  decision  of  suits  involving  the 

*  See  American  Insurance  Company,  et  al.  vs.  Canter,  1st  Peters' 
Supreme  Court  Reports,  542. 


120  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

most  important  rights,  and  very  large  sums  of  money 
depended  upon  the  dictum  of  the  judge. 

"  The  sale  of  the  territory  by  Mexico  to  the  United 
States  had  necessarily  cut  off  or  dissolved  the  laws 
regulating  the  granting  or  procuring  titles  to  land ; 
and,  as  our  own  land-laws  had  not  been  extended  over 
it,  the  people  were  compelled  to  receive  such  titles  as 
were  offered  to  them,  without  the  means  of  ascertain 
ing  whether  they  were  valid  or  not. 

"  Litigation  was  so  expensive  and  precarious  that 
injustice  and  oppression  were  frequently  endured, 
rather  than  resort  to  so  uncertain  a  remedy. 

"  Towns  and  cities  were  springing  into  existence  ; 
many  of  them  without  charters  or  any  legal  right  to 
organize  municipal  authorities,  or  to  tax  property  or 
the  citizens  for  the  establishment  of  a  police,  the 
erection  of  prisons,  or  providing  any  of  those  means 
for  the  protection  of  life  and  property  which  are  so 
necessary  in  all  civil  communities,  and  especially 
among  a  people  mostly  strangers  to  each  other. 

"  Nearly  one  million  and  a  half  of  dollars  had  been 
paid  into  the  custom-house,  as  duties  on  imported 
goods,  before  our  revenue  laws  had  been  extended  over 
the  country;  and  the  people  complained  bitterly  that 
they  were  thus  heavily  taxed  without  being  pro 
vided  with  a  government  for  their  protection,  or 
laws  which  they  could  understand,  or  allowed  the 
right  to  be  represented  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation. 

"  While  anxiously  waiting  the  action  of  Congress, 
oppressed  and  embarrassed  by  this  state  of  affairs,  and 
feeling  the  pressing  necessity  of  applying  such  reme 
dies  as  were  in  their  power,  and  circumstances  seemed 
to  justify,  they  resolved  to  substitute  laws  of  their  own 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


121 


for  the  existing  system,  and  to  establish  tribunals  for 
their  proper  and  faithful  administration. 

"In  obedience,  therefore,  to  the  extraordinary 
exigencies  of  their  condition,  the  people  of  the  city  of 
San  Francisco  elected  members  to  form  a  legislature, 
and  clothed  them  with  full  powers  to  pass  laws. 

"  The  communities  of  Sonoma  and  of  Sacramento 
city  followed  the  example. 

"  Thus  were  three  legislative  bodies  organized ;  the 
two  most  distant  being  only  one  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  apart. 

"  Other  movements  of  the  kind  were  threatened, 
and  doubtless  would  have  followed,  in  other  sections 
of  the  territory,  had  they  not  been  arrested  by  the 
formation  of  a  State  government. 

"  While  the  people  of  California  were  looking  to 
Congress  for  a  territorial  government,  it  was  quite 
evident  that  such  an  organization  was  daily  becoming 
less  suited  to  their  condition,  which  was  entirely  differ 
ent  from  that  of  any  of  the  territories  out  of  which 
the  new  States  of  the  Union  had  been  formed. 

"  Those  territories  had  been  at  first  slowly  and 
sparsely  peopled  by  a  few  hunters  and  farmers,  who 
penetrated  the  wilderness,  or  traversed  the  prairies, 
in  search  of  game  or  a  new  home ;  and,  when  thus 
gradually  their  population  warranted  it,  a  government 
was  provided  for  them.  They,  however,  had  no  foreign 
commerce,  nor  any  thing  beyond  the  ordinary  pursuits 
of  agriculture,  and  the  various  branches  of  business 
which  usually  accompany  it,  to  induce  immigration 
within  their  borders.  Several  years  were  required  to 
give  them  sufficient  population  and  wealth  to  place 
them  in  a  condition  to  require,  or  enable  them  to  sup 
port,  a  State  government. 
11 


122  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

"Not  so  with  California.  The  discovery  of  the 
vast  metallic  and  mineral  wealth  in  her  mountains  had, 
already  attracted  to  her,  in  the  space  of  twelve  months, 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  people.  An  exten 
sive  commerce  had  sprung  up  with  China,  the  ports  of 
Mexico  on  the  Pacific,  Chilij  and  Australia. 

"  Hundreds  of  vessels  from  the  Atlantic  ports  of 
the  Union,  freighted  with  our  manufactures  and 
agricultural  products,  and  filled  with  our  fellow-citi 
zens,  had  arrived,  or  were  on  their  passage  round 
Cape  Horn ;  so  that,  in  the  month  of  June  last,  (1849) 
there  were  more  than  three  hundred  sea-going  vessels 
in  the  port  of  San  Francisco. 

"  California  has  a  border  on  the  Pacific  of  ten  de 
grees  of  latitude,  and  several  important  harbors  which 
have  never  been  surveyed;  nor  is  there  a  buoy,  a 
beacon,  a  lighthouse,  or  a  fortification,  on  the  whole 
coast. 

"  There  are  no  docks  for  the  repair  of  national  or 
mercantile  vessels  nearer  than  New  York,  a  distance 
of  some  twenty  thousand  miles  round  Cape  Horn. 

"  All  these  things,  together  with  the  proper  regula 
tions  for  the  gold  region,  the  quicksilver  mines,  the 
survey  and  disposition  of  the  public  lands,  the  adjust 
ment  of  land  titles,  the  establishment  of  a  mint  and 
of  marine  hospitals,  required  the  immediate  formation 
of  a  more  perfect  civil  government  than  California 
then  had,  and  the  fostering  care  of  Congress  and  the 
Executive. 

"  California  had,  as  it  were  by  magic,  become  a 
State  of  great  wealth  and  power.  One  short  year 
had  given  her  a  commercial  importance  but  little 
inferior  to  that  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  old  States. 
She  had  passed  her  minority  at  a  single  bound,  and 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


123 


might  justly  be  regarded  as  fully  entitled  to  take  her 
place  as  an  equal  among  her  sisters  of  the  Union* 

"  When,  therefore,  the  reality  became  known  to  the 
people  of  that  territory  that  the  government  had  done 
nothing  to  relieve  them  from  the  evils  and  embarrass 
ments  under  which  they  were  suffering,  and  seeing  no 
probability  of  any  change  on  the  subject  which  divided 
Congress,  they  adopted,  with  most  unexampled  una 
nimity  and  promptitude,  the  only  course  which  lay 
open  to  them — the  immediate  formation  of  a  State 
government. 

"  They  were  induced  to  take  this  atep  not  only  for 
the  reason  that  it  promised  the  most  speedy  remedy 
for  present  difficulties,  but  because  the  great  and 
rapidly  growing  interests  of  the  territory  demanded 
it ;  and  all  reflecting  men  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  it 
ought  not  to  be  any  longer,  and  could  not,  under  any 
circumstances,  be  much  longer  postponed. 

"  They  not  only  considered  themselves  best  qualified, 
but  that  they  had  the  right  to  decide,  as  far  as  they 
were  concerned,  the  embarrassing  question  which  was 
shaking  the  Union  to  its  centre,  and  had  thus  far 
deprived  them  of  a  regularly  organized  civil  govern 
ment.  They  believed  that,  in  forming  a  constitution, 
they  had  a  right  to  establish  or  prohibit  slavery,  and 
that,  in  their  action  as  a  State,  they  would  be  sustained 
by  the  North  and  the  South. 

"  In  taking  this  step,  they  proceeded  with  all  the 
regularity  which  has  ever  characterized  the  American 
people  in  discharging  the  great  and  important  duties 
of  self-government. 

"  The  steamer  in  which  I  was  a  passenger  did  not 
etop  at  Monterey ;  I  therefore  did  not  see  General 
Riley,  nor  had  I  any  communication  with  him  until 


10 


124  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

about  the  middle  of  the  month,  when  he  came  to  San 
Francisco.  A  few  days  after  my  arrival,  his  procla 
mation  calling  a  Convention  to  form  a  State  constitu 
tion,  dated  the  third  of  June,  was  received. 

"The  people  acted  in  compliance  with  what  they 
believed  to  be  the  views  of  Congress,  and  conformably 
to  the  recommendations  of  the  proclamation ;  and  pro 
ceeded,  on  the  day  appointed,  to  elect  members  to  a 
Convention  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  constitution, 
to  be  regularly  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  ratifi 
cation  or  rejection,  and,  if  approved,  to  be  presented 
to  Congress,  with  a  prayer  for  the  admission  of  Cali 
fornia,  as  a  State,  into  the  Union." 

According  to  the  recommendation  of  General  Riley, 
the  civil  governor  of  California,  an  election  of  delegates 
to  form  a  Convention  was  held  on  the  1st  of  August, 
1849.  The  number  of  delegates  to  be  elected  was 
thirty-seven.  General  Riley,  General  Smith,  and 
Thomas  Butler  King,  used  every  means  to  stimulate 
the  people  to  hold  the  preparatory  meetings,  and  they 
were  generally  successful.  But  in  some  districts 
scarcely  any  move  was  made  until  a  few  days  before 
the  election.  In  one  or  two  instances,  the  election 
was  not  held  upon  the  day  appointed  ;  but  the  Con 
vention  nevertheless  admitted  the  delegates  elected  in 
such  cases. 

The  Convention  was  to  meet  on  the  1st  of  Septem 
ber,  at  Monterey  ;  but  it  did  not  get  regularly  organ 
ized  until  the  4th  of  that  month,  when  Dr.  Robert 
Semple,  of  the  Sonoma  district,  was  chosen  president. 
The  proportion  of  the  native  Californian  members  to 
the  American  was  about  equal  to  that  of  the  popula 
tion.  Among  the  members  was  Captain  John  Sutter, 
the  pioneer  settler  of  California,  General  Yalleja  and 


HISTORY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


125 


Antonio  Pico,  who  had  both  been  distinguished  men 
in  California,  before  the  conquest.  The  body,  as  a 
whole,  commanded  respect,  as  being  dignified  and 
intellectual. 

The  Declaration  of  Rights  was  the  first  measure 
adopted  by  the  Convention.  Its  sections  being  general 
and  liberal  in  their  character,  were  nearly  all  adopted 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  clause  prohibiting  the 
existence  of  slavery  was  the  unanimous  sentiment  of 
the  Convention.  The  Constitution  will  be  found  in 
another  part  of  this  work,  and  we  will  not  here  recapitu 
late  its  provisions.  It  combines  the  best  features  of  the 
Constitutions  of  the  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains,  and  is  in  most  respects  similar  to  that  of  the 
State  of  New  York. 

The  most  exciting  questions  discussed  were,  a  clause 
prohibiting  the  entrance  of  free  people  of  color  into 
the  State,  the  boundary  line,  and  the  great  seal  of 
the  State.  The  first,  the  clause  prohibiting  the 
entrance  of  free  people  of  color  into  the  State, 
passed  first  reading,  but  was  subsequently  rejected 
by  a  large  majority.  The  question  of  suffrage  occa 
sioned  some  discussion,  widely  differing  opinions 
being  entertained  by  the  members.  An  article  was 
adopted  by  the  Convention,  excluding  Indians  and 
negroes,  with  their  descendants,  from  the  privilege  of 
voting;  but  it  was  subsequently  modified  by  a  proviso, 
which  gave  the  Legislature  power  of  admitting  Indians, 
:>r  the  descendants  of  Indians  to  the  right  of  suffrage 
by  a  two-thirds  concurrent  vote.  Under  this  provi 
sion,  some  of  the  most  wealthy  and  influential  Califor- 
nians  are  excluded  from  voting  until  permitted  by  the 
Legislature. 

The  boundary  question,  which  came  up  towards  the 
11* 


126  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

close  of  the  Convention,  was  the  most  exciting  theme. 
The  point  of  dispute  was  the  eastern  boundary  line. 
The  Pacific  formed  the  natural  boundary  on  the  west ; 
the  parallel  of  42  degrees,  the  boundary  on  the  north, 
and  the  Mexican  line,  run  in  conformity  with  the 
treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  the  boundary  on  the 
south.  The  discussion,  reconsideration  and  voting 
upon  the  various  propositions  occupied  nearly  two 
days.  Finally,  the  line  detailed  in  the  Constitution 
was  adopted. 

The  discussion  upon  the  adoption  of  the  Great  Seal 
for  the  State  was  amusing.  Eight  or  ten  designs  were 
offered,  and  the  members  from  the  different  districts 
were  all  anxious  to  have  their  particular  district  repre 
sented.  The  choice  finally  fell  upon  one  offered  by  a 
Major  Garnett.  The  principal  figure  is  Minerva,  with 
spear  and  shield,  emblematic  of  the  manner  in  which 
California  was  born,  full-grown,  into  the  confederacy. 
At  her  feet  crouches  the  grizzly  bear.  Before  him  is 
the  wheat-sheaf  and  vine,  illustrating  the  agricultural 
products  of  the  country.  Near  them  is  the  miner, 
with  his  implements.  In  the  distance  is  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  and  beyond  that,  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
over  which  appears  the  word  "  Eureka."  The  closing 
scenes  of  the  Convention  are  described  in  graphic  and 
vivid  colors  by  one  who  was  an  eye-witness  to  them, 
and  recorded  them  upon  the  spot.* 

"  The  members  met  this  morning  at  the  usual  hour, 
to  perform  the  last  duty  that  remained  to  them — that 
of  signing  the  Constitution.  They  were  all  in  the 
happiest  humor,  and  the  morning  was  so  bright  and 
balmy  that  no  one  seemed  disposed  to  call  an  organi- 

•  Bayard  Taylor,  El  Dorado,  or  Adventures  in  the  Path  of  Empire. 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


127 


zation.  Mr.  Semple  was  sick,  and  Mr.  Steuart,  of 
San  Francisco,  therefore  called  the  meeting  to  order 
by  moving  Captain  Slitter's  appointment  in  his  place. 
The  chair  was  taken  by  the  old  pioneer,  and  the  mem 
bers  took  their  seats  around  the  sides  of  the  hall, 
which  still  retained  the  pine-trees  and  banners,  left 
from  last  night's  decorations.  The  windows  and  doors 
were  open,  and  a  delightful  breeze  came  in  from  the 
bay,  whose  blue  waters  sparkled  in  the  distance.  The 
view  from  the  balcony  in  front  was  bright  and  inspiring. 
The  town  below — the  shipping  in  the  harbor — the 
pine-covered  hills  behind — were  mellowed  by  the  blue 
October  haze,  but  there  was  no  cloud  in  the  sky,  and 
I  could  plainly  see,  on  the  northern  horizon,  the 
mountains  of  Santa  Cruz  and  the  Sierra  de  Gavilan. 

"  After  the  minutes  had  been  read,  the  Committee 
appointed  to  draw  up  an  Address  to  the  people  of 
California,  was  called  upon  to  report,  and  Mr.  Steuart, 
Chairman,  read  the  Address.  Its  tone  and  sentiment 
met  with  universal  approval,  and  it  was  adopted  with 
out  a  dissenting  voice.  A  resolution  was  then  offered 
to  pay  Lieutenant  Hamilton,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
engrossing  the  Constitution  upon  parchment,  the  sum 
of  $500  for  his  labor.  This  magnificent  price,  proba 
bly  the  highest  ever  paid  for  a  similar  service,  is  on  a 
par  with  all  things  else  in  California.  As  this  was 
their  last  session,  the  members  were  not  disposed  to 
find  fault  with  it,  especially  when  it  was  stated  by  one 
of  them  that  Lieutenant  Hamilton  had  written  day 
and  night  to  have  it  ready,  and  was  still  working 
upon  it,  though  with  a  lame  and  swollen  hand.  The 
sheet  for  the  signer's  names  was  ready,  and  the  Con 
vention  decided  to  adjourn  for  half  an  hour  and  then 
meet  for  the  purpose  of  signing. 


128  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"I  amused  myself  during  the  interval  bj  walking 
about  the  town.  Every  body  knew  that  the  Conven 
tion  was  about  closing,  and  it  was  generally  under 
stood  that  Captain  Burton  had  loaded  the  guns  at  the 
fort,  and  would  fire  a  salute  of  thirty-one  guns  at  the 
proper  moment.  The  citizens,  therefore,  as  well  as 
the  members,  were  in  an  excited  mood.  Monterey 
never  before  looked  so  bright,  so  happy,  so  full  of 
pleasant  expectation. 

"  About  one  o'clock  the  Convention  met  again ;  few 
of  the  members,  indeed,  had  left  the  hall.  Mr.  Sem- 
ple,  though  in  feeble  health,  called  them  to  order,  and, 
after  having  voted  General  Riley  a  salary  of  $10,000, 
and  Mr.  Halleck,  Secretary  of  State,  $6000  a  year, 
from  the  commencement  of  their  respective  offices, 
they  proceeded  to  affix  their  names  to  the  completed 
Constitution.  At  this  moment  a  signal  was  given ; 
the  American  colors  ran  up  the  flag-staff  in  front  of 
the  government  buildings,  and  streamed  out  on  the 
air.  A  second  afterward  the  first  gun  boomed  from 
the  fort,  and  its  stirring  echoes  came  back  from  one 
hill  after  another,  till  they  were  lost  in  the  distance. 

"All  the  native  enthusiasm  of  Captain  Sutter's 
Swiss  blood  was  aroused ;  he  was  the  old  soldier  again. 
He  sprang  from  his  seat,  and,  waving  his  hand  around 
his  head,  as  if  swinging  a  sword,  exclaimed  ;  '  Gentle 
men,  this  is  the  happiest  day  of  my  life.  It  makes 
me  glad  to  hear  those  cannon :  they  remind  me  of  the 
time  when  I  was  a  soldier.  Yes,  I  am  glad  to  hear 
them — this  is  a  great  day  for  California  !'  Then, 
recollecting  himself,  he  sat  down,  the  tears  streaming 
from  his  eyes.  The  members  with  one  accord,  gave 
three  tumultuous  cheers,  which  were  heard  from  one 
end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  As  the  signing  went 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


129 


on,  gun  followed  gun  from  the  fort,  the  echoes  rever 
berating  grandly  around  the  bay,  till  finally,  as  the 
loud  ring  of  the  thirty-first  was  heard,  there  was  a 
shout :  '  That's  for  California  !'  and  every  one  joined 
in  giving  three  times  three  for  the  new  star  added  to 
our  Confederation. 

"  There  was  one  handsome  act  I  must  not  omit  to 
mention.  The  captain  of  the  English  bark  Volunteer, 
of  Sidney,  Australia,  lying  in  the  harbor,  sent  on  shore 
in  the  morning  for  an  American  flag.  When  the  first 
gun  was  heard,  a  line  of  colors  ran  fluttering  up  to  the 
spars,  the  stars  and  stripes  flying  triumphantly  from 
the  main-top.  The  compliment  was  the  more  marked, 
as  some  of  the  American  vessels  neglected  to  give  any 
token  of  recognition  to  the  event  of  the  day. 

"  The  Constitution  having  been  signed  and  the  Con 
vention  dissolved,  the  members  proceeded  in  a  body 
to  the  house  of  General  Riley.  The  visit  was  evidently 
unexpected  by  the  old  veteran.  When  he  made  his 
appearance,  Captain  Sutter  stepped  forward,  and 
having  shaken  him  by  the  hand,  drew  himself  into  an 
erect  attitude,  raised  one  hand  to  his  breast  as  if  he 
were  making  a  report  to  his  commanding  officer  on  the 
field  of  battle,  and  addressed  him  as  follows : 

"  l  GENERAL  :  I  have  been  appointed  by  the  dele 
gates,  elected  by  the  people  of  California  to  form  a 
Constitution,  to  address  you  in  their  names  and  in 
behalf  of  the  whole  people  of  California,  and  express 
the  thanks  of  the  Convention  for  the  aid  and  coopera 
tion  they  have  received  from  you  in  the  discharge  of 
the  responsible  duty  of  creating  a  State  government. 
And,  sir,  the  Convention,  as  you  will  perceive  from 
the  official  records,  duly  appreciates  the  great  and 
important  services  you  have  rendered  to  our  common 


130  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

country,  and  especially  to  the  people  of  California, 
and  entertains  the  confident  belief  that  you  will  receive 
from  the  whole  of  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
when  you  retire  from  your  official  duties  here,  that 
verdict  so  grateful  to  the  heart  of  the  patriot :  <  Well 
done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant.' 

"  General  Biley  was  visibly  affected  by  this  mark 
of  respect,  no  less  appropriate  than  well  deserved  on 
his  part.  The  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  the  plain,  blunt 
sincerity  of  his  voice  and  manner,  went  to  the  heart 
of  every  one  present.  l  Gentlemen,'  he  said,  ( I 
never  made  a  speech  in  my  life.  I  am  a  soldier — but 
I  can  feel;  and  I  do  feel  deeply  the  honor  you  have 
this  day  conferred  upon  me.  Gentlemen,  this  is  a 
prouder  day  to  me  than  that  on  which  my  soldiers 
cheered  me  on  the  field  of  Contreras.  I  tha,nk  you 
all  from  my  heart.  I  am  satisfied  now  that  the  people 
have  done  right  in  selecting  delegates  to  frame  a  Con 
stitution.  They  have  chosen  a  body  of  men  upon 
whom  our  country  may  look  with  pride ;  you  have 
framed  a  Constitution  worthy  of  California.  And  I 
have  no  fear  for  California  while  her  people  choose 
their  representatives  so  wisely.  Gentlemen,  I  con 
gratulate  you  upon  the  successful  conclusion  of  your 
arduous  labors ;  and  I  wish  you  all  happiness  and 
prosperity.' 

"  The  General  was  here  interrupted  with  three  hearty 
cheers  which  the  members  gave  him,  as  Governor  of 
California,  followed  by  three  more, l  as  a  gallant  soldier, 
and  worthy  of  his  country's  glory.'  He  then  con 
cluded  in  the  following  words  :  *  I  have  but  one  thing 
to  add,  gentlemen,  and  that  is,  that  my  success  in  the 
affairs  of  California  is  mainly  owing  to  the  efficient 
aid  rendered  me  by  Captain  Halleck,  the  Secretary 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA.  131 

of  State.  He  has  stood  by  me  in  all  emergencies. 
To  him  I  have  always  appealed  when  at  a  loss  myself; 
and  he  has  never  failed  me.' 

"  This  recognition  of  Captain  Halleck's  talents  and 
the  signal  service  he  has  rendered  to  our  authorities 
here,  since  the  conquest,  was  peculiarly  just  and  appro 
priate.  It  was  so  felt  by  the  members,  and  they 
responded  with  equal  warmth  of  feeling  by  giving 
three  enthusiastic  cheers  for  the  Secretary  of  State. 
They  then  took  their  leave,  many  of  them  being  anxious 
to  start  this  afternoon  for  their  various  places  of  resi 
dence.  All  were  in  a  happy  and  satisfied  mood,  and 
none  less  so  than  the  native  members.  Pedrorena 
declared  that  this  was  the  most  fortunate  day  in  the 
history  of  California.  Even  Carillo,  in  the  beginning 
one  of  our  most  zealous  opponents,  displayed  a  genuine 
zeal  for  the  Constitution,  which  he  helped  to  frame 
under  the  laws  of  our  republic." 

The  elections  for  the  various  officers  under  the  new 
Constitution  took  place  on  the  13th  of  November, 
1849.  Peter  II.  Burnett  was  chosen  Governor,  and 
John  McDougall,  Lieutenant-Governor.  George  W. 
Wright  and  Edward  Gilbert  were  chosen  to  fill  the 
posts  of  representatives  in  Congress.  The  first  State 
Legislature  met  at  the  capital,  the  pueblo  de  San 
Josd,  on  the  15th  of  December,  and  elected  John  C. 
Fremont  and  Wm.  M.  Gwin,  Senators  to  Congress. 
Every  branch  of  the  civil  government  went  at  once 
into  operation,  and  admission  into  the  Union  as  a 
State  seems  all  that  is  necessary  to  complete  the  settle 
ment  of  affairs  in  California. 


132  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER    X. 

POPULATION,  CLIMATE,  PRODUCTIONS,  &C. 

WITH  regard  to  the  population,  climate,  soil,  pro 
ductions,  &c.,  we  extract  from  Mr.  King's  Report,  as 
giving  the  most  reliable  and  complete  information. 

"  Humboldt,  in  his  <  Essay  on  New  Spain,'  states 
the  population  of  Upper  California,  in  1802,  to  have 
consisted  of 

Converted  Indians,  .         .         .         15,562 
Other  classes,  ....  1,300 

16,862 

"  Alexander  Forbes,  in  his  *  History  of  Upper  and 
Lower  California,'  published  in  London,  in  1839,  states 
the  number  of  converted  Indians  in  the  former  to 
have  been,  in  1831,          .         .         .         18,683 
Of  all  other  classes,  at     ...  4,342 

23,025 

"  He  expresses  the  opinion  that  this  number  had 
not  varied  much  up  to  1885,  and  the  probability  is, 
there  was  very  little  increase  in  the  white  population 
until  the  emigrants  from  the  United  States  began  to 
enter  the  country  in  1838. 

"  They  increased  from  year  to  year,  so  that,  in 
1846,  Colonel  Fremont  had  little  difficulty  in  calling 
to  his  standard  some  five  hundred  fighting  men. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  it  was  sup 
posed  that  there  were,  including  discharged  volunteers, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


133 


from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  Americans  and  Califor- 
nians,  exclusive  of  converted  Indians,  in  the  territory. 
The  immigration  of  American  citizens  in  1849,  up  to 
the  1st  of  January  last,  was  estimated  at  eighty  thou 
sand — of  foreigners,  twenty  thousand. 

"  The  population  of  California  may,  therefore,  be 
safely  set  down  at  115,000  at  the  commencement  of 
the  present  year. 

"  It  is  quite  impossible  to  form  any  thing  like  an 
accurate  estimate  of  the  number  of  Indians  in  the  ter 
ritory.  Since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and 
especially  since  the  discovery  of  gold  in  the  mountains, 
their  numbers  at  the  missions,  and  in  the  valleys  near 
the  coast,  have  very  much  diminished.  In  fact,  the 
whole  race  seems  to  be  rapidly  disappearing. 

"  The  remains  of  a  vast  number  of  villages  in  all 
the  valleys  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  among  the  foot 
hills  of  that  range  of  mountains,  show  that  at  no  dis 
tant  day  there  must  have  been  a  numerous  population, 
where  there  is  not  now  an  Indian  to  be  seen.  There 
are  a  few  still  retained  in  the  service  of  the  old  Cali- 
fornians,  but  these  do  riot  amount  to  more  than  a  few 
thousand  in  the  whole  territory.  It  is  said  there  are 
large  numbers  of  them  in  the  mountains  and  valleys 
about  the  head-waters  of  the  San  Joaquin,  along  the 
western  base  of  the  Sierra,  and  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  territory,  and  that  they  are  hostile.  A  number 
of  Americans  were  killed  by  them  during  the  last 
summer,  in  attempting  to  penetrate  high  up  the  rivers 
in  search  of  gold ;  they  also  drove  one  or  two  parties 
from  Trinity  River.  They  have,  in  several  instances, 
attacked  parties  coming  from  or  returning  to  Oregon, 
in  the  section  of  country  which  the  lamented  Captain 
Warner  was  examining  when  he  was  killed. 
12 


134  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"  It  is  quite  impossible  to  form  any  estimate  of  the 
number  of  these  mountain  Indians.  Some  suppose 
there  are  as  many  as  three  hundred  thousand  in  the 
territory,  but  I  should  not  be  inclined  to  believe  that 
there  can  be  one-third  of  that  number.  It  is  quite 
evident  that  they  are  hostile,  and  that  they  ought  to 
be  chastised  for  the  murders  already  committed. 

"  The  small .  bands  with  whom  I  met,  scattered 
through  the  lower  portions  of  the  foot-hills  of  the 
Sierra,  and  in  the  valleys  between  them  and  the  coast, 
seemed  to  be  almost  the  lowest  grade  of  human  beings. 
They  live  chiefly  on  acorns,  roots,  insects,  and  the 
kernel  of « the  pine  burr ;  occasionally,  they  catch  fish 
and  game.  They  use  the  bow  and  arrow,  but  are  said 
to  be  too  lazy  and  effeminate  to  make  successful  hun 
ters.  They  do  not  appear  to  have  the  slightest  incli 
nation  to  cultivate  the  soil,  nor  do  they  even  attempt 
it — as  far  as  I  could  obtain  information — except  when 
they  are  induced  to  enter  the  service  of  the  white 
inhabitants.  They  have  never  pretended  to  hold  any 
interest  in  the  soil,  nor  have  they  been  treated  by  the 
Spanish  or  American  immigrants  as  possessing  any. 

"  The  Mexican  government  never  treated  with  them 
for  the  purchase  of  land,  or  the  relinquishment  of  any 
claim  to  it  whatever.  They  are  lazy,  idle  to  the  last 
degree,  and,  although  they  are  said  to  be  willing  to 
give  their  services  to  any  one  who  will  provide  them 
with  blankets,  beef,  and  bread,  it  is  with  much  diffi 
culty  they  can  be  made  to  perform  labor  enough  to 
reward  their  employers  for  these  very  limited  means 
of  comfort. 

"  Formerly,  at  the  missions,  those  who  were  brought 
up  and  instructed  by  the  priests  mad[e  very  good  ser 
vants.  Many  of  these  now  attached  to  families  seem 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


135 


to  be  faithful  and  intelligent.  But  those  who  are  at 
all  in  a  wild  and  uncultivated  state  are  most  degraded 
objects  of  filth  and  idleness. 

"  It  is  possible  that  government  might,  by  collecting 
them  together,  teach  them,  in  some  degree,  the  arts 
and  habits  of  civilization  ;  but,  if  we  may  judge  of  the 
future  from  the  past,  they  will  disappear  from  the  face 
of  the  earth  as  the  settlements  of  the  whites  extend 
•over  the  country.  A  very  considerable  military  force 
will  be  necessary,  however,  to  protect  the  emigrants  in 
the  northern  and  southern  portions  of  the  territory." 

So  much  for  the  population  of  California  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  year,  (1850.)  By  its 
close,  it  is  highly  probable,  the  number  will  reach  two 
hundred  thousand,  exclusive  of  the  Indians.  Such  a 
population,  composed,  for  the  most  part,  of  those  who 
are  impregnated  with  the  active,  {Progressive  spirit  of 
the  American  people,  will  undoubtedly  conduct  Cali 
fornia  to  a  brilliant  position  among  the  stars  of  the 
republic.  With  regard  to  the  climate  of  the  country, 
various  conflicting  statements  have  been  promulgated, 
which  arises  from  the  visits  of  those  who  make  the 
statements  having  been  made  to  different  portions  of 
the  country,  and  stating  the  climate  of  a  portion  as 
the  climate  of  the  whole.  Mr.  King's  Report  fur 
nishes  the  most  accurate  account  of  the  changes  of 
the  temperature,  and  the  state  of  the  atmosphere 
throughout  the  year,  together  with  an  explanation  of 
their  causes.  He  says — 

"  I  come  now  to  consider  the  climate.  The  climate 
of  California  is  so  remarkable  in  its  periodical  changes, 
and  for  the  long  continuance  of  the  wet  and  dry  sea 
sons,  dividing,  as  they  do,  the  year  into  about  two 
two  equal  parts,  which  have  a  most  peculiar  influence 


136  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

on  the  labor  applied  to  agriculture  and  the  products 
of  the  soil,  and,  in  fact,  connect  themselves  so  insepa 
rably  with  all  the  interests  of  the  country,  that  I  deem 
it  proper  briefly  to  mention  the  causes  which  produce 
these  changes,  and  which,  it  will  be  seen,  as  this  report 
proceeds,  must  exercise  a  controlling  influence  on  the 
commercial  prosperity  and  resources  of  the  country. 

"It  is  a  well-established  theory,  that  the  currents 
of  air  under  which  the  earth  passes  in  its  diurnal 
revolutions,  follow  the  line  of  the  sun's  greatest  attrac 
tion.  These  currents  of  air  are  drawn  towards  this 
line  from  great  distances  on  each  side  of  it ;  and,  as 
the  earth  revolves  from  west  to  east,  they  blow  from, 
north-east  and  south-east,  meeting,  and,  of  course, 
causing  a  calm,  on  the  line. 

"  Thus,  when  the  sun  is  directly,  in  common  par 
lance,  over  the  equator,  in  the  month  of  March,  these 
currents  of  air  blow  from  some  distance  north  of  the 
Tropic  of  Cancer,  and  south  of  the  Tropic  of  Capri 
corn,  in  an  oblique  direction  towards  this  line  of  the 
sun's  greatest  attraction,  and  forming  what  are  known 
as  the  north-east  and  south-east  trade  winds. 

"  As  the  earth,  in  its  path  round  the  sun,  gradually 
brings  the  line  of  attraction  north,  in  summer,  these 
currents  of  air  are  carried  with  it ;  so  that  about  the 
middle  of  May  the  current  from  the  north-east  has 
extended  as  far  as  the  38th  or  39th  degree  of  north 
latitude,  and  by  the  twentieth  of  JUDO,  the  period  of 
the  sun's  greatest  northern  inclination,  to  the  northern 
portions  of  California  and  the  southern  section  of 
Oregon. 

"  Those  north-east  winds,  in  their  progress  across 
the  continent,  towards  the  Pacific  Ocean,  pass  over 
the  snow-capped  ridges  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  and 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


1ST 


the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  are,  of  course,  deprived  of  all 
the  moisture  which  can  be  extracted  from  them  by  the 
low  temperature  of  those  regions  of  eternal  snow,  and 
consequently  no  moisture  can  be  precipitated  from 
them,  in  the  form  of  dew  or  rain,  in  a  higher  tempera 
ture  than  that  to  which  they  have  been  subjected. 
They,  therefore,  pass  over  the  hills  and  plains  of 
California,  where  the  temperature  is  very  high  in 
summer,  in  a  very  dry  state ;  and,  so  far  from  being 
charged  with  moisture,  they  absorb,  like  a  sponge,  all 
that  the  atmosphere  and  surface  of  the  earth  can  yield, 
until  both  become,  apparently,  perfectly  dry. 

"  This  process  commences,  as  I  have  said,  when  the 
line  of  the  sun's  greatest  attraction  comes  north  in 
summer,  bringing  with  it  these  vast  atmospheric 
movements,  and,  on  their  approach,  produce  the  dry 
season  in  California  ;  which,  governed  by  these  laws, 
continues  until  some  time  after  the  sun  repasses  the 
Equator  in  September,  when,  about  the  middle  of 
November,  the  climate  being  relieved  from  these  north 
east  currents  of  air,  the  south-west  winds  set  in  from 
the  ocean  charged  with  moisture — the  rains  commence 
and  continue  to  fall,  not  constantly,  as  some  persons 
have  represented,  but  with  sufficient  frequency  to 
designate  the  period  of  their  continuance,  from  about 
the  middle  of  November  until  the  middle  of  May,  in 
the  latitude  of  San  Francisco,  as  the  wet  season. 

"  It  follows,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  the  dry 
season  commences  first,  and  continues  longest  in  the 
southern  portions  of  the  territory,  and  that  the  climate 
of  the  northern  part  is  influenced  in  a  much  less 
degree,  by  the  causes  which  I  have  mentioned,  than 
any  other  section  of  the  country.  Consequently,  we 
find  that,  as  low  down  as  latitude  39°,  rains  are  suffi- 


11 


138  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

ciently  frequent  in  summer  to  render  irrigation  quite 
unnecessary  to  the  perfect  maturity  of  any  crop  which 
is  suited  to  the  soil  and  climate. 

"  There  is  an  extensive  ocean  current  of  cold  water, 
which  comes  from  the  northern  regions  of  the  Pacific, 
or,  perhaps,  from  the  Arctic,  and  flows  along  the 
coast  of  California.  It  comes  charged  with,  and  emits 
in  its  progress,  cold  air,  which  appears  in  the  form  of 
fog  when  it  comes  in  contact  with  a  higher  tempera 
ture  on  the  American  coast,  as  the  gulf-stream  of  the 
Atlantic  exhales  vapor  when  it  meets,  in  any  part  of 
its  progress,  a  lower  temperature.  This  current  has 
not  been  surveyed,  and,  therefore,  its  source,  tempera 
ture,  velocity,  width,  and  course,  have  not  been  accu 
rately  ascertained. 

"  It  is  believed,  by  Lieutenant  Maury,  on  what  he 
considers  sufficient  evidence — and  no  higher  authority 
can  be  cited — that  this  current  comes  from  the  coasts 
of  China  and  Japan,  flows  northwardly  to  the  penin 
sula  of  Kamtschatka,  and,  making  a  circuit  to  the 
eastward,  strikes  the  American  coast  in  about  latitude 
41°  or  42°.  It  passes  thence  southwardly,  and  finally 
loses  itself  in  the  tropics. 

"  Below  latitude  thirty-nine,  and  west  of  the  foot 
hills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  forests  of  California 
are  limited  to  some  scattering  groves  of  oak  in  the 
valleys  and  along  the  borders  of  the  streams,  and  of 
red  wood  on  the  ridges  and  in  the  gorges  of  the  hills 
— sometimes  extending  into  the  plains.  Some  of  the 
hills  are  covered  with  dwarf  shrubs,  which  may  be 
used  as  fuel.  With  these  exceptions,  the  whole 
territory  presents  a  surface  without  trees  or  shrub 
bery.  It  is  covered,  however,  with  various  species 
of  grass,  and,  for  many  miles  from  the  coast,  with 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


139 


wild  oats,  which,  in  the  valleys,  grow  most  luxuriantly. 
These  grasses  and  oats  mature  and  ripen  early  in  the 
dry  season,  and  soon  cease  to  protect'  the  soil  from 
the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun.  As  the  summer  ad 
vances,  the  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  and  the  earth, 
to  a  considerable  depth,  soon  becomes  exhausted ; 
and  the  radiation  of  heat,  from  the  extensive  naked 
plains  and  hill-sides,  is  very  great. 

"  The  cold,  dry  currents  of  air  from  the  north-east, 
after  passing  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  descend  to  the  Pacific,  and  absorb  the  moist 
ure  of  the  atmosphere,  to  a  great  distance  from  the 
land.  The  cold  air  from  the  mountains,  and  that 
which  accompanies  the  great  ocean  current  from  the 
north-west,  thus  become  united  ;  and  vast  banks  of 
fog  are  generated,  which,  when  driven  by  the  wind, 
has  a  penetrating,  or  cutting,  effect  on  the  human 
skin,  much  more  uncomfortable  than  would  be  felt  in 
the  humid  atmosphere  of  the  Atlantic,  at  a  much 
lower  temperature. 

"  As  the  sun  rises  from  day  to  day,  week  after  week, 
and  month  after  month,  in  unclouded  brightness  dur 
ing  the  dry  season,  and  pours  down  its  unbroken  rays 
on  the  dry,  unprotected  surface  of  the  country,  the 
heat  becomes  so  much  greater  inland  than  it  is  on  the 
ocean,  that  an  under-current  of  cold  air,  bringing  the 
fog  with  it,  rushes  over  the  coast  range  of  hills,  and 
through  their  numerous  passes,  towards  the  interior. 

"Every  day,  as  the  heat,  inland,  attains  a  sufficient 
temperature,  the  cold,  dry  wind  from  the  ocean  com 
mences  to  blow.  This  is  usually  from  eleven  to  one 
o'clock ;  and,  as  the  day  advances,  the  wind  increases 
and  continues  to  blow  till  late  at  night.  When  the 
vacuum  is  filled,  or  the  equilibrium  of  the  atmosphere 


140  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

restored,  the  wind  ceases ;  a  perfect  calm  prevails 
until  about  the  same  hour  the  following  day,  when 
the  same  process  commences  and  progresses  as  be 
fore  ;  and  these  phenomena  are  of  daily  occurrence, 
with  few  exceptions,  throughout  the  dry  season. 

"  These  cold  winds  and  fogs  render  the  climate  at 
San  Francisco,  and  all  along  the  coast  of  California, 
except  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  it,  probably 
more  uncomfortable,  to  those  not  accustomed  to  it,  in 
summer  than  in  winter. 

"A  few  miles  inland,  where  the  heat  of  the  sun 
modifies  and  softens  the  wind  from  the  ocean,  the 
climate  is  moderate  and  delightful.  The  heat,  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  is  not  so  great  as  to  retard  labor 
or  render  exercise  in  the  open  air  uncomfortable. 
The  nights  are  cool  and  pleasant.  This  description 
of  climate  prevails  in  all  the  valleys  along  the  coast 
range,  and  extends  throughout  the  country,  north  and 
south,  as  far  eastward  as  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin.  In  this  vast  plain,  the  sea-breeze 
loses  its  influence,  and  the  degree  of  heat  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  during  the  summer  months,  is 
much  greater  than  is  known  on  the  Atlantic  coast  in 
the  same  latitudes.  It  is  dry,  however,  and  probably 
not  more  oppressive.  On  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  and  especially  in  the  deep  ravines  of  the 
streams,  the  thermometer  frequently  ranges  from 
110°  to  115°  in  the  shade,  during  three  or  four  hours 
of  the  day,  say  from  eleven  until  three  o'clock.  In 
the  evening,  as  the  sun  declines,  the  radiation  of  heat 
ceases.  The  cool,  dry  atmosphere  from  the  mountains 
spreads  over  the  whole  country,  and  renders  the 
nights  cool  and  invigorating. 

"I  have  been  kindly  furnished,  by  Surgeon-General 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


141 


Lawson,  U.  S.  Army,  with  thermometrical  observa 
tions,  taken  at  the  following  places  in  California, 
viz :  At  San  Francisco,  by  Assistant-Surgeon  W.  C. 
Parker,  for  six:  months,  embracing  the  last  quarter  of 
1847  and  the  first  quarter  of  1848.  The  monthly 
mean  temperature  was  as  follows :  October,  57°; 
November,  49°;  December,  50°;  January,  49°; 
February,  50°;  March,  51°. 

"  At  Monterey,  in  latitude  36°  38'  north  and  longi 
tude  121°  west,  on  the  coast,  about  one  degree  and  a 
half  south  of  San  Francisco,  by  Assistant-Surgeon 
W.  S.  King,  for  seven  months,  from  May  to  Novem 
ber  inclusive.  The  monthly  mean  temperature  was  : 
May,  56°;  June,  59°;  July,  62°;  August,  59°;  Sep 
tember,  58°;  October,  60°;  November,  56°. 

"  At  Los  Angeles,  latitude  34°  7',  longitude  west 
118°  7',  by  Assistant-Surgeon  John  S.  Griffin,  for 
ten  months,  from  June,  1847,  to  March,  1848,  inclu 
sive.  The  monthly  mean  temperature  was :  June, 
73°;  July,  74°;  August,  75°;  September,  75°; 
October,  69°;  November,  59°;  December,  60°; 
January,  58°;  February,  55°;  March,  58°.  This 
place  is  about  forty  miles  from  the  coast. 

"  At  San  Diego,  latitude  32°  45',  longitude  west 
117°  11',  by  Assistant-Surgeon  J.  D.  Summers,  for 
the  following  three  months  of  1849,  viz :  July, 
monthly  mean  temperature,  73°;  August  75°;  Sep 
tember,  70°. 

"  At  Suttersville,  on  the  Sacramento  River,  latitude 
38°  32'  north,  longitude  west  121°  34',  by  Assistant- 
Surgeon  R.  Murray,  for  the  following  months  of  1849: 
July,  monthly  mean  temperature,  73°;  August,  70°; 
September,  65°;  October,  65°. 

"  These  observations  show  a  remarkably  high  tempe- 


142  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

rature  at  San  Francisco  during  the  six  months  from 
October  to  March  inclusive;  a  variation  of  only 
eight  degrees  in  the  monthly  mean,  and  a  mean 
temperature  for  the  six  months  of  51  degrees. 

"  At  Monterey,  we  find  the  mean  monthly  tempera 
ture  of  the  seven  months  to  have  been  58°.  If  we 
take  the  three  summer  months,  the  mean  heat  was  60°. 
The  mean  of  the  three  winter  months  was  a  little  over 
49°;  showing  a  mean  difference,  on  that  part  of  the 
coast,  of  only  11°  between  summer  and  winter. 

"  The  mean  temperature  of  San  Francisco,  for  the 
three  winter  months,  was  precisely  the  same  as  at 
Monterey — a  little  over  49°. 

"As  these  cities  are  only  one  degree  and  a  half 
distant  from  each  other,  and  both  situated  near  the 
ocean,  the  temperature  at  both,  in  summer,  may  very 
reasonably  be  supposed  to  be  as  nearly  similar  as  the 
thermometer  shows  it  to  be  in  winter. 

"  The  mean  temperature  of  July,  August,  and  Sep 
tember,  at  San  Diego,  only  3°  53'  south  of  Monterey, 
was  72°.  The  mean  temperature  of  the  same  months 
at  Monterey  was  a  little  over  59°;  showing  a  mean 
difference  of  13°. 

"  This  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  cold  ocean 
current  is  thrown  off  from  the  southern  part  of  the 
coast  by  Point  Conception,  and  the  islands  south  of 
it ;  and  consequently  its  influence  on  the  climate  of 
San  Diego  is  much  less  than  at  Monterey  and  San 
Francisco. 

"  At  Los  Angeles,  40  miles  distant  from  the  coast, 
the  mean  temperature  of  the  three  months  was  74°; 
of  the  three  autumn  months,  67°;  of  the  three 
winter  months,  57°. 

"At  Suttersville,  about  one   hundred   and  thirty 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


143 


miles  from  the  ocean,  and  four  degrees  north  of  Los 
Angeles,  the  mean  temperature  of  August,  Septem 
ber,  and  October,  was  67°.  The  mean  temperature 
of  the  same  months  at  Monterey  was  59°;  showing  a 
difference  of  8°  between  the  sea-coast  and  the  interior, 
on  nearly  the  same  parallel  of  latitude.  A  much 
greater  difference  would  undoubtedly  appear,  if  we 
had  observations  for  the  spring  and  summer  months 
of  Suttersville  and  the  gold  mines. 

"  These  variations  in  the  climate  of  California  ac 
count  for  the  various  and  conflicting  opinions  and 
statements  respecting  it. 

"  A  stranger  arriving  at  San  Francisco  in  summer  is 
annoyed  by  the  cold  winds  and  fogs,  and  pronounces 
the  climate  intolerable.  A  few  months  will  modify, 
if  not  banish  his  dislike,  and  he  will  not  fail  to  ap 
preciate  the  beneficial  effects  of  a  cool,  bracing  atmo 
sphere.  Those  who  approach  California  overland, 
through  the  passes  of  the  mountains,  find  the  heat  of 
summer,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  greater  than  they 
have  been  accustomed  to,  and,  therefore,  may  com 
plain  of  it. 

Those  who  take  up  their  residence  in  the  valleys 
which  are  situated  between  the  great  plain  of  the 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  and  the  coast  range  of 
hills,  find  the  climate,  especially  in  the  dry  season,  as 
healthful  and  pleasant  as  it  is  possible  for  any  climate 
to  be  which  possesses  sufficient  heat  to  mature  the  ce 
real  grains  and  edible  roots  of  the  temperate  zone. 

"  The  division  of  the  year  into  two  distinct  seasons 
— dry  and  wet — impresses  those  who  have  been  ac 
customed  to  the  variable  climate  of  the  Atlantic 
States  unfavorably.  The  dry  appearance  of  the 
country  in  summer,  and  the  difficulty  of  moving  about 


144  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

in  winter,  seem  to  impose  serious  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  agricultural  prosperity,  while  the  many  and 
decided  advantages  resulting  from  the  mildness  of 
winter,  and  the  bright,  clear  weather  of  summer,  are 
not  appreciated.  These  will  appear  when  I  come  to 
speak  of  the  productions  of  California.  We  ought 
not  to  be  surprised  at  the  dislike  which  the  immigrants 
frequently  express  to  the  climate.  Tt  is  so  unlike 
that  from  which  they  come,  that  they  cannot  readily 
appreciate  its  advantages,  or  become  reconciled  to  its 
extremes  of  dry  and  wet. 

"  If  a  native  of  California  were  to  go  to  New 
England  in  winter,  and  see  the  ground  frozen  and 
covered  with  snow,  the  streams  with  ice,  and  find 
himself  in  a  temperature  many  degrees  colder  than 
he  had  ever  felt  before,  he  would  probably  be  as  much 
surprised  that  people  could  or  would  live  in  so  in 
hospitable  a  region,  as  any  immigrant  ever  has  been 
at  what  he  has  seen  or  felt  in  California. 

"  So  much  are  our  opinions  influenced  by  early  im 
pressions,  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons  with  which 
we  are  familiar,  love  of  country,  home,  and  kindred, 
that  we  ought  never  to  hazard  a  hasty  opinion  when 
we  come  in  contact  with  circumstances  entirely  differ 
ent  from  those  to  which  we  have  all  our  lives  been 
accustomed." 

These  remarks  explain  the  reason  of  the  diversity 
of  opinion  expressed  by  persons  who  have  visited 
California,  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  The  Italian, 
climate  of  Los  Angeles  has  received  the  praises  of 
nearly  all  who  have  visited  that  city  or  its  neighbor 
hood.  The  theinometrical  observations  detailed  in 
the  above  account  seem  to  prove  that  much  of  the  un 
favorable  opinions  expressed  concerning  the  climate  is 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


145 


the  result  of  hasty  judgment,  and  a  dislike  of  that 
which  is  different  from  that  to  which  we  have  been 
used. 

The  soil  of  California  has  also  been  the  subject  of 
various  and  conflicting  statements.  Many  of  those 
who  have  spent  some  months  in  the  country,  and  re 
turned  to  publish  their  hastily  gathered  observations, 
either  set  down  the  soil  as  totally  unfit  for  agricultural 
purposes,  or,  having  been  located  in  some  garden  spot 
the  great  portion  of  their  time  of  residence  there,  pro 
nounce  it  unsurpassed  for  richness  and  fertility.  As 
Mr.  King  visited  California  with  the  sole  object  of 
making  accurate  observations  upon  the  territory  and 
its  resources,  the  statements  of  the  character  of  the 
soil  which  are  given  in  his  report  will  carry  greater 
weight  than  any  other.  He  says — 

"  The  valleys  which  are  situated  parallel  to  the 
coast  range,  and  those  which  extend  eastwardly  in  all 
directions  among  the  hills,  towards  the  great  plain  of 
the  Sacramento,  are  of  unsurpassed  fertility. 

"  They  have  a  deep  black  alluvial  soil,  which  has 
the  appearance  of  having  been  deposited  when  they 
were  covered  with  water.  This  idea  is  strengthened 
by  the  fact  that  the  rising  grounds  on  the  borders  of 
these  valleys,  and  many  hills  of  moderate  elevation, 
have  a  soil  precisely  like  that  of  the  adjoining  plains. 

"  This  soil  is  so  porous  that  it  remains  perfectly  un 
broken  by  gullies,  notwithstanding  the  great  quantity 
of  water  which  falls  in  it  annually  during  the  wet 
season.  The  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  terri 
tory,  on  the  Trinity  and  other  rivers,  and  on  the  bor 
ders  of  Clear  Lake,  as  far  as  it  has  been  examined,  is 
said  to  be  remarkably  fertile. 

"The   great  valley  of  the   Sacramento  and   San 
13 


146  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

Joaquin  has  evidently  been,  at  somo  remote  period, 
the  bed  of  a  lake ;  and  those  rivers,  which  drain  it, 
present  the  appearance  of  having  cut  their  channels 
through  the  alluvial  deposit  after  it  had  been  formed. 
In  fact,  it  is  not  possible  that  they  could  have  been 
instrumental  in  forming  the  plain  through  which  they 
pass.  Their  head-waters  come  from  the  extreme  ends 
of  the  valley,  north  and  south  ;  and,  were  it  not  for 
the  supply  of  water  received  from  the  streams  which 
flow  into  them  from  the  Sierra  Nevada,  their  beds 
would  be  almost,  if  not  quite,  dry  in  the  summer 
months.  The  soil  is  very  rich,  and,  with  a  proper 
system  of  drainage  and  embankment,  would,  undoubt 
edly,  be  capable  of  producing  any  crop,  except  sugar 
cane,  now  cultivated  in  the  Atlantic  States  of  the 
Union. 

"  There  are  many  beautiful  valleys  and  rich  hill 
sides  among  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  which, 
when  the  profits  of  labor  in  mining  shall  be  reduced 
so  as  to  cause  its  application  to  agriculture,  will  pro 
bably  support  a  large  population.  There  is  said  to 
be  a  rich  belt  of  well-timbered  and  watered  country 
extending  the  whole  length  of  the  gold  region  between 
it  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  some  twenty  miles  in  width. 
There  is  no  information  sufficiently  accurate  respect 
ing  the  eastern  slope  of  the  great  snowy  range  to 
enable  us  to  form  any  opinion  of  its  general  character 
or  soil.  Some  of  its  valleys  have  been  visited  by 
miners,  who  represent  them  as  equal  to  any  portion 
of  the  country  to  the  westward  of  it. 

"The  great  valley  of  the  Colorado,  situated  between 
the  Sierra  Madre  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  is  but  little 
known.  It  is  inhabited  by  numerous  tribes  of  savages, 
who  manifest  the  most  decided  hostility  towards  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


147 


whites,  and  have  hitherto  prevented  any  explorations 
of  their  country,  and  do  not  permit  emigrants  to  pass 
through  it.  Therefore,  parties  from  Santa  F£,  on 
their  way  to  California,  are  compelled  to  make  a  cir 
cuit  of  near  a  thousand  miles  northward  to  the  Salt 
Lake,  or  about  the  same  distance  southward  fry  the 
route  of  the  Gila.  Although  this  valley  is  little  known, 
there  are  indications  that  it  is  fertile  and  valuable. 

"  The  name  of  the  river  *  Colorado'  is  descriptive 
of  its  waters  ;  they  are  as  deeply  colored  as  those  of 
the  Missouri  or  Red  River,  while  those  of  the  Gila, 
which  we  know  flows  through  barren  lands,  are  clear. 

"It  would  seem  impossible  for  a  large  river  to  col 
lect  sediment  enough  in  a  sandy,  barren  soil,  to  color 
its  waters  so  deeply  as  to  give  it  a  name  among  those 
who  first  discovered  and  have  since  visited  its  shores. 
The  probability,  therefore,  is,  that  this  river  flows 
through  an  alluvial  valley  of  great  fertility,  which  has 
never  been  explored.  This  conjecture  is  strengthened 
by  the  fact  that  the  Indians  who  inhabit  it  are  hostile, 
and  oppose,  as  far  as  they  can,  all  persons  who  attempt 
to  enter  or  explore  it.  This  has  been  their  uniform 
course  of  conduct  respecting  all  portions  of  the  conti 
nent  which  have  been  fertile,  abounding  in  game  and 
the  spontaneous  productions  of  the  earth. 

"As  this  valley  is  situated  in  the  direct  route  from 
Santa  Fe'  to  California,  its  thorough  exploration  be 
comes  a  matter  of  very  great  importance,  especially 
as  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  elevated  regions  to 
the  north  of  it,  covered  with  snow  during  most  of  the 
year,  will  force  the  line  of  the  great  national  railway 
to  the  Pacific  through  some  portion  of  it. 

"  The  soil  I  have  described,  situated  west  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  and  embracing  the  plain  of  the  Sacra- 


148  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

mento  and  San  Joaquin,  covers  an  area,  as  nearly  as 
I  can  estimate,  of  between  fifty  and  sixty  thousand 
square  miles,  and  would,  under  a  proper  system  of 
cultivation,  be  capable  of  supporting  a  population* 
equal  to  that  of  Ohio  or  New  York  at  the  present 
time." 

If  this  account  be  accurate,  the  soil  of  California 
will  yield  a  rich  reward  to  the  agriculturist,  and  be 
come  a  strong  attraction  to  permanent  settlers,  who 
are  willing  to  trust  to  the  more  certain  returns  for 
labor  spent  in  tilling  it.  It  is  agriculture,  undoubtedly, 
which  must  give  stability  to  the  increase  of  the  coun 
try,  and,  whatever  may  be  the  value  of  the  gold  mines, 
furnish  California  with  her  substantial  wealth.  Few 
cities  or  towns  ever  had  a  permanent  prosperity  which 
had  not  a  neighboring  country  fit  for  agricultural 
purposes. 

The  quantity  and  quality  of  the  present  productions 
of  California,  other  than  her  mineral  wealth,  is  an 
important  subject  for  inquiry.  Previous  to  the  dis 
covery  of  the  gold,  the  exportable  products  consisted 
almost  exclusively  of  hides  and  tallow ;  the  inhabitants 
paying  more  attention  to  the  raising  of  horses  and 
cattle  than  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  The  reason 
is  found  in  the  general  characteristic  of  the  Califor- 
nians — indolence.  Horses  were  raised  to  gratify 
their  passion  for  riding ;  and  cattle,  because  they 
afforded  a  subsistence  at  a  very  small  cost  of  labor. 
As  to  what  are,  and  what,  by  the  character  of  the 
soil  and  climate,  might  be,  the  products  of  California, 
and  how  the  wants  of  the  people  are  to  be  supplied, 
we  quote  Mr.  King's  remarks : 

"  Beef  cattle,  delivered  on  the  navigable  waters  of 
the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  are  now  worth  from  $20  to 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


149 


$30  per  head;  horses,  formerly  worth  from  §5  to 
$10,  are  now  valued  at  $60  to  $150.  The  destruc 
tion  of  cattle  for  their  hides  and  tallow  has  now  entirely 
ceased,  in  consequence  of  tho  demand  for  beef.  This 
demand,  will,  of  course,  increase  with  the  population  ; 
and  it  would  seem  that,  in  a  very  few  years,  there 
will  be  none  to  supply  the  market. 

"If  we  estimate  the  number  of  cattle  now  in  Cali 
fornia  at  500,000  head,  which  is  believed  to  be  about 
the  number,  and  the  population  at  120,000  for  the  year 
1850 — a  low  estimate — and  suppose  it  to  increase  one 
hundred  thousand  per  annum,  there  will  be  in  the 
Territory  or  State,  in  1854,  five  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  people. 

"  If  we  adopt  the  estimate  of  those  well  acquainted 
with  the  demand,  of  half  a  beef,  on  an  average,  to 
each  inhabitant,  it  appears  there  will  be  a  consump 
tion,  in  1850,  of  60,000  head;  in  1851,  of  110,000; 
in  1852,  of  160,000 ;  in  1853,  of  210,000 ;  in  1854, 
of  260,000— making  an  aggregate  of  800,000,  which 
would  absorb  all  the  present  stock,  with  its  natural 
increase. 

"  This  is  a  very  important  matter,  as  connected  with 
the  amount  of  supply  which  that  country  will  ultimately 
require  from  the  Atlantic  States  of  the  Union.  There 
is  no  other  country  on  earth  which  has,  or  will  ever 
possess,  the  means  of  supplying  so  great  a  demand. 

"  It  is  now  a  well-established  fact  among  the  immi 
grants  to  California,  that  oxen  possess  greater  powers 
of  endurance  than  mules  or  horses ;  that  they  will 
perform  the  distance  with  loaded  wagons  in  less  time, 
and  come  in  at  the  end  of  the  journey  in  better  con 
dition. 

"  Cows  are   now  driven  in  considerable   numbers 


150  HISTORY  OS1   CALIFORNIA. 

from  Missouri,  and  the  time  cannot  be  far  distant 
when  cattle  from  the  Western  States  will  be  driven 
annually  by  tens  of  thousands  to  supply  this  new 
market. 

"If  California  increases  in  population  as  fast  as 
the  most  moderate  estimate  would  lead  us  to  believe, 
it  will  not  be  five  years  before  she  will  require  more 
than  one  hundred  thousand  head  of  beef  cattle  per 
annum,  from  some  quarter,  to  supply  the  wants  of  her 
people. 

"  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  salt  provisions  may 
supply  this  vast  demand.  Those  who  have  attempted 
to  live  on  such  food,  during  the  dry  season,  have  been 
attacked  with  scurvy  and  other  cutaneous  diseases,  of 
which  many  have  died. 

"  There  is  no  climate  in  the  world  where  fresh  meat 
and  vegetables  are  more  essential  to  human  health. 
In  fact,  they  are  indispensable. 

"  It  must  not  be  inferred  that  cattle  driven  across 
the  plains  and  mountains,  from  the  Western  States, 
will  be  fit  for  beef  on  their  arrival  in  California.  But 
one  winter  and  spring,  on  the  luxuriant  pastures  of 
that  country,  will  put  them  in  a  condition  which  would 
render  them  acceptable  in  any  Atlantic  market. 

"  These  grazing  grounds  are  extensive  enough  to 
support  five  times  as  many  cattle  as  may  be  annually 
required  ;  therefore,  there  will  be  no  scarcity  of  food 
for  them. 

"I  am  acquainted  with  a  drover  who  left  California 
in  December  last,  with  the  intention  of  bringing  in 
ten  thousand  sheep  from  New  Mexico.  This  shows 
that  the  flocks  and  herds  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
are  looked  to  already  as  the  source  from  which  the 
markets  on  the  Pacific  are  to  be  supplied. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


151 


"  The  climate  and  soil  of  California  are  well  suited 
to  the  growth  of  wheat,  barley,  rye,  and  oats.  The 
temperature  along  the  coast  is  too  cool  for  the  success 
ful  culture  of  maize  as  a  field  crop.  The  fact  that 
oats,  the  species  which  is  cultivated  in  the  Atlantic 
States,  are  annually  self-sowed  and  produced  on  all 
the  plains  and  hills  along  the  coast,  and  as  far  inland 
as  the  sea-breeze  has  a  marked  influence  on  the  climate, 
is  sufficient  proof  that  all  the  cereal  grains  may  be 
successfully  cultivated  without  the  aid  of  irrigation. 

"  It  is  quite  true  that  this  auxiliary  was  extensively 
employed  at  the  missions,  and  undoubtedly  increased 
the  product  of  all  crops  to  which  it  was  applied,  as  it 
will  in  any  country  on  earth  if  skilfully  used.  This 
does  not  prove,  however,  that  it  was  essentially  neces 
sary  to  the  production  of  an  ample  reward  to  the 
husbandman.  The  experience  of  all  the  old  inhabit 
ants  is  sufficient  evidence  of  this.  If  their  imperfect 
mode  of  culture  secured  satisfactory  returns,  it  is 
reasonable  to  presume  that  a  more  perfect  system 
would  produce  much  greater  results.  There  is  abun 
dant  evidence  to  prove  that,  in  the  rich  alluvial  valleys, 
wheat  and  barley  have  produced  from  forty  to  sixty 
bushels  from  one  bushel  of  seed,  without  irrigation. 

"  Irish  potatoes,  turnips,  onions,  in  fact  all  the  edible 
roots  known  and  cultivated  in  the  Atlantic  States,  are 
produced  in  great  perfection.  In  all  the  valleys  east 
of  the  coast  range  of  hills,  the  climate  is  sufficiently 
warm  to  mature  crops  of  Indian  corn,  rice,  and  pro 
bably  tobacco. 

"  The  cultivation  of  the  grape  has  attracted  much 
attention  at  the  missions,  among  the  residents  of 
towns,  and  the  rural  population,  and  been  attended 
•with  much  success,  wherever  it  has  been  attempted. 


152  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

The  dry  season  secures  the  fruit  from  those  diseases 
which  are  so  fatal  in  the  Atlantic  States,  and  it  attains 
very  great  perfection. 

"  The  wine  made  from  it  is  of  excellent  quality,  very 
palatable,  and  can  be  produced  in  any  quantity.  The 
grapes  are  delicious,  and  produced  with  very  little 
labor.  When  taken  from  the  vines  in  bunches,  and 
suspended  in  a  dry  room  by  the  stems,  they  become 
partially  dry,  retain  their  flavor,  and  remain  several 
weeks,  perhaps  months,  without  decay. 

"  Apples,  pears,  and  peaches  are  cultivated  with 
facility,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  all  the 
fruits  of  the  Atlantic  States  can  be  produced  in  great 
plenty  and  perfection. 

"  The  grasses  are  very  luxuriant  and  nutritious, 
affording  excellent  pasture.  The  oats,  which  spring 
up  the  whole  length  of  the  sea-coast,  and  from  forty 
to  sixty  miles  inland,  render  the  cultivation  of  that 
crop  entirely  unnecessary,  and  yield  a  very  great 
quantity  of  nutritious  food  for  horses,  cattle,  and 
sheep.  The  dry  season  matures,  and  I  may  say 
cures,  these  grasses  and  oats,  so  that  they  remain  in 
an  excellent  state  of  preservation  during  the  summer 
and  autumn,  and  afford  an  ample  supply  of  forage. 
While  the  whole  surface  of  the  country  appears 
parched,  and  vegetation  destroyed,  the  numerous  flocks 
and  herds  which  roam  over  it  continue  in  excellent 
condition. 

"  Although  the  mildness  of  the  winter  months,  and 
the  fertility  of  the  soil,  secure  to  California  very 
decided  agricultural  advantages,  it  is  admitted  that 
irrigation  would  be  of  very  great  importance,  and 
necessarily  increase  the  products  of  the  soil,  in  quan 
tity  and  variety,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  dry 


HIST 0 II Y    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


153 


season.  It  should,  therefore,  be  encouraged  by 
government,  in  the  survey  and  disposition  of  the 
public  lands,  as  far  as  practicable. 

"  The  farmer- derives  some  very  important  benefits 
from  the  dry  season.  His  crops  in  harvest  time  are 
never  injured  by  rain  ;  he  can  with  perfect  confidence 
permit  them  to  remain  in  his  fields  as  long  after  they 
have  been  gathered  as  his  convenience  may  require  ; 
he  has  no  fears  that  they  will  be  injured  by  wet  or 
unfavorable  weather.  Hence  it  is  that  many  who 
have  long  been  accustomed  to  that  climate  prefer  it  to 
the  changeable  weather  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 

"  As  already  stated,  the  forests  of  California,  south 
of  latitude  39°,  and  west  of  the  foot-hills  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  are  limited  to  detached,  scattering 
groves  of  oak  in  the  valleys,  and  of  red  wood  on  the 
ridges  and  on  the  gorges  of  the  hills. 

"  It  can  be  of  no  practical  use  to  speculate  on  the 
causes  which  have  denuded  so  large  an  extent  of  coun 
try,  further  than  to  ascertain  whether  the  soil  is  or  is 
not  favorable  to  the  growth  of  forest  trees. 

"  When  the  dry  season  sets  in,  the  entire  surface  is 
covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass  and  oats, 
which,  as  the  summer  advances,  become  perfectly  dry. 
The  remains  of  all  dead  trees  and  shrubs  also  become 
dry.  These  materials,  therefore,  are  very  combustible, 
and  usually  take  fire  in  the  latter  part  of  summer  and 
beginning  of  autumn,  which  commonly  passes  over  the 
whole  country,  destroying,  in  its  course,  the  young 
shrubs  and  trees.  In  fact,  it  seems  to  be  the  same 
process  which  has  destroyed  or  prevented  the  growth 
of  forest  trees  on  the  prairies  of  the  Western  States, 
and  not  any  quality  in  the  soil  unfriendly  to  their 
growth. 


12 


154  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

"  The  absence  of  timber  and  the  continuance  of  the 
dry  season  are  apt  to  be  regarded  by  farmers,  on  first 
going  into  the  country,  as  irremediable  defects,  and  as 
presenting  obstacles,  almost  insurmountable,  to  the 
successful  progress  of  agriculture.  A  little  experience 
will  modify  these  opinions. 

"It  is  soon  ascertained  that  the  soil  will  produce 
abundantly  without  manure ;  that  flocks  and  herds 
sustain  themselves  through  the  winter  without  being 
fed  at  the  farm-yard,  and,  consequently,  no  labor  is 
necessary  to  provide  forage  for  them  ;  that  ditches  are 
easily  dug,  which  present  very  good  barriers  for  the 
protection  of  crops,  until  live  fences  can  be  planted, 
and  have  time  to  grow.  Forest  trees  may  be  planted 
with  little  labor,  and  in  very  few  years  attain  a  suffi 
cient  size  for  building  and  fencing  purposes.  Time 
may  be  usefully  employed  in  sowing  various  grain  and 
root  crops  during  the  wet  or  winter  season.  There  is 
no  weather  cold  enough  to  destroy  root  crops,  and, 
therefore,  it  is  not  necessary  to  gather  them.  They 
can  be  used  or  sold  from  the  field  where  they  grow. 
The  labor,  therefore,  required  in  most  of  the  old 
States  to  fell  the  forests,  clear  the  land  of  rubbish, 
and  prepare  it  for  seed,  may  here  be  applied  to  other 
objects. 

"  All  these  things,  together  with  the  perfect  security 
of  all  crops  in  harvest  time,  from  injury  ~by  wet 
weather,  are  probably  sufficient  to  meet  any  expense 
which  may  be  incurred  in  irrigation,  or  caused,  for  a 
time,  by  a  scanty  supply  of  timber. 

"  In  the  northern  part  of  the  territory,  above  lati 
tude  39°,  and  on  the  hills  which  rise  from  the  great 
p\ain  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  to  the  foot 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  forests  of  timber  are  beau- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


155 


tiful  and  extensive,  and  would,  if  brought  into  use,  be 
sufficiently  productive  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
southern  and  western  portions  of  the  State." 

It  is  not  to  be-  expected  that  the  labor  and  attention 
necessary  for  the  improvement  of  the  soil  will  be  given 
to  that  object,  so  long  as  the  continued  discovery 
of  gold  and  other  metals  promise  an  easy  road  to 
wealth.  Many  who  were  prosperously  engaged  in 
agricultural  employments,  in  the  most  fertile  regions, 
have  abandoned  it,  lured  by  the  golden  bait,  and 
shouldered  the  pick  and  shovel  to  try  their  luck  or 
perseverance  at  gold  digging.  The  gardens  and  the 
vineyards  of  Los  Angeles  have  been  deserted  for  the 
barren  hills  and  ravines  where  the  precious  dust 
abounds.  In  this  state  of  things,  California  must 
become  an  extensive  market  for  the  products  of  the 
Atlantic  States  of  the  Union. 

The  extent  and  value  of  the  public  domain,  and 
the  validity  of  the  titles  to  various  tracts  of  land  in 
California,  will,  doubtless,  be  the  cause  of  much  liti 
gation  and  disturbance,  as  the  country  becomes  more 
thickly  settled.  The  relation  in  which  the  claimants  of 
land  granted  to  them  under  the  Mexican  government, 
stand  towards  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
is  clearly  and  fully  set  forth  by  Mr.  King,  in  his  Cali 
fornia  report.  He  says — 

"  It  is  not  known  whether  the  Jesuits  who  founded 
the  .mission,  or  their  successors  the  Franciscans,  ever 
did,  or  do  now,  hold  any  title  from  the  Spanish  crown 
to  the  lands  which  they  occupied.  Nor  has  any  in 
vestigation  been  made  to  ascertain  how  far  those 
titles,  if  they  ever  existed,  have  been  invalidated  by 
the  acts  of  the  priests,  or  the  decrees  of  the  Mexican 
government. 


156  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

a  A  superficial  view  of  the  matter  would  be  very  apt 
to  lead  to  the  supposition  that  the  Jesuits,  so  cele 
brated  for  wisdom  and  cunning,  would  not  fail  .to 
secure  that  which,  at  that  time,  would  probably  have 
been  obtained  by  merely  asking  for  it — a  royal  decree, 
granting  to  them  all  the  lands  they  might  require  in 
that  remote  country  for  ecclesiastical  purposes.  There 
have  been  some  intimations  to  that  effect,  but  nothing 
is  distinctly  known.  These  missions  embrace  within 
their  limits  some  of  the  most  valuable  lands  in  the 
Territory,  and  it  is  very  important  that  it  should  be 
ascertained  whether  they  belong  to  the  Government, 
or  may  be  justly  claimed  by  individals. 

"  Most  of  the  land  fit  for  cultivation,  south  of  lati 
tude  39°,  and  west  of  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin,  is  claimed  under  what  purport  to 
be  grants  from  the  Mexican  government. 

"  On  most  of  these  grants,  the  minerals  and  metals 
are  reserved  to  the  government :  conditions  were 
coupled  with  many  of  them  which  have  not  been  com 
plied  with.  In  others,  the  boundaries  described  em 
brace  two  or  three  times  as  much  land  as  the  grant 
conveys. 

"  The  Mexican  law  required  all  grants  made  by  the 
provincial  government,  with  few  exceptions,  to  be 
confirmed  by  the  supreme  government.  The  great 
distance  which  separated  them,  and  the  unfrequent'or 
difficult  means  of  communication,  made  a  compliance 
with  the  law  so  expensive  and  tardy  that  it  came  to  be 
almost  disregarded. 

"  There  were  other  causes  which  led  to  this  neglect. 

"  Previous  to  the  treaty  with  Mexico  and  the  immi 
gration  of  American  citizens  to  that  country,  land 
was  not  regarded  as  of  much  value,  except  for  grazing 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


15T 


purposes.  There  was  room  enough  for  all.  There 
fore,  the  claimants  or  proprietors  did  not  molest  one 
another,  or  inquire  into  the  validity  of  titles. 

"  These  extensive  grants  are  described  by  natural 
boundaries,  such  as  mountains,  bays,  and  promontories, 
which,  in  many  instances,  might  allow  of  a  variation 
of  several  miles  in  the  establishment  of  a  corner  with 
chain  and  compass. 

"  By  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  the  United 
States  purchased  all  the  rights  and  interests  of 
Mexico  to  and  in  California.  This  purchase  not  only 
embraced  all  the  lands  which  had  not  been  granted 
1)y  Mexico,  but  all  the  reserved  minerals  and  metals, 
and  also  reversionary  rights  which  might  accrue  to 
Mexico  from  a  want  of  compliance  on  the  part  of  the 
grantees  with  the  conditions  of  their  grants,  or  a  want 
of  perfection  in  the  grants. 

"  It  will  be  perceived  that  this  is  a  subject  of  very 
great  importance,  not  only  to  the  people  of  California, 
but  to  the  United  States,  and  calls  for  prompt  and 
efficient  action  on  the  part  of  the  Government.  It  is 
believed  that  the  appointment  of  competent  commis 
sioners,  fully  empowered  to  investigate  these  titles,  in 
a  spirit  of  kindness  towards  the  claimants,  with 
power  to  confirm  such  titles  as  justice  may  seem  to 
demand,  or  with  instructions  to  report  their  proceed 
ings  and  awards  to  Congress,  for  confirmation  or 
rejection,  will  be  the  best  and  perhaps  the  only  satis 
factory  mode  of  adjusting  this  complex  and  difficult 
question." 

He  also  makes  the  following  observations  and  re 
commendations  concerning  the   extent   and  value  of 
the  land,  to  which  the  title  of  the  government  is  un 
questionable,  and  the  best  mode  of  improving  it. 
14 


158  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"  The  lands  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory, 
above  the  39°,  have  not  been  explored  or  granted. 
They  are  supposed  to  embrace  an  area  of  about  twenty 
millions  of  acres,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  doubt 
less  valuable  for  its  timber  and  soil. 

"  Comparatively  few  grants  have  been  obtained  in 
the  great  valley  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin. 

"  This  vast  tract,  therefore,  containing,  as  is  esti 
mated,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  millions  of  acres,  belongs 
mostly  to  the  Government.  South  of  this  valley,  and 
west  of  the  Colorado,  within  the  limits  of  California, 
as  indicated  in  her  Constitution,  there  are  said  to  be 
extensive  tracts  of  valuable,  unappropriated  land ; 
and,  on  investigation,  it  will  probably  appear  that 
there  are  many  of  them  in  detached  bodies,  which 
have  not  been  granted. 

"  I  do  not  speak  of  the  gold  region,  embracing  the 
entire  foot-hills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  some  five 
hundred  miles  long  and  sixty  miles  broad,  in  connec 
tion  with  the  public  domain,  which  may  be  embraced 
in  the  general  land  system  for  sale  and  settlement, 
for  reasons  which  will  be  hereafter  assigned. 

"The  survey  of  the  public  lands  on  a  system  suited 
to  the  interests  of  the  country  is  a  matter  of  very 
great  importance.  In  the  inhabited  portions  of  the 
Territory,  the  boundaries  of  Mexican  grants,  running 
as  they  do  in  all  directions,  will  render  the  system  of 
surveys  by  parallels  of  latitude  and  longitude  quite 
impracticable. 

"  In  all  parts  of  the  country,  irrigation  is  desirable, 
and  its  benefits  should  be  secured,  as  far  as  possible, 
by  suitable  surveys  and  legal  regulations.  Most  of 
the  valleys  are  watered  by  streams  sufficiently  large 
to  be  rendered  very  useful.  It  would,  therefore,  seem 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


159 


wise  to  lay  off  the  land  in  conformity  to  the  course 
of  the  hills  and  streams  which  bound  and  drain  the 
valleys. 

"A  system,, of  drainage,  which  would  also  secure 
irrigation,  is  absolutely  necessary  to  give  value  to  the 
great  plain  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin. 
This  valley  is  so  extensive  and  level  that,  if  the  rivers 
passing  through  it  were  never  to  overflow  their  banks, 
the  rain  which  falls  in  winter  would  render  the  greater 
portion  of  it  unfit  for  cultivation.  The  foundation  of 
such  a  system  can  only  be  established  in  the  survey 
and  sale  of  the  land. 

"  This  can  be  done  by  laying  out  canals  and  drains, 
at  suitable  distances,  and  in  proper  directions,  and 
by  leaving  ivide  margins  to  the  rivers,  that  they  may 
have  plenty  of  room  to  increase  their  channels 
when  their  ivaters  shall  be  confined  within  them  by 
embankments. 

"  It  would  be  well  also  to  regulate  the  price  of 
these  lands,  so  as  to  meet,  in .  some  degree,  the  ex 
pense  of  draining  them. 

"  This  system  would,  when  agriculture  shall  become 
a  pursuit  in  California,  make  this  valley  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  productive  portions  of  the  Union." 

With  regard  to  the  present  state  of  the  commerce 
and  of  the  commercial  resources  of  California,  it  is 
observed,  that  her  resources  are  confined  almost 
entirely  to  the  metallic  wealth  of  the  country,  and  that 
such  a  state  of  things  would  seem  unfavorable  to  an 
extensive  commercial  intercourse.  Undoubtedly,  this 
metallic  wealth  of  itself,  could  not  long  maintain  an 
extensive  commerce  with  the  various  nations  of  the 
earth.  But  when  the  mineral  wealth  begins  to  be 
developed,  as  it  soon  will,  there  will  be  no  lack  of 


160  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

return  freights  for  vessels  arriving  with  supplies. 
The  quicksilver  mines  already  yield  an  enormous 
profit,  and  will  soon  be  extensively  worked.  Respect 
ing  the  present  state  of  the  commerce  of  the  country, 
extent  of  her  resources,  and  facilities  of  communica 
tion  with  the  Atlantic  States  of  the  Union,  and  other 
countries,  Mr.  King's  Report  furnishes  the  following 
account — 

"  Gold  is  the  product  of  the  country,  and  is  imme 
diately  available,  in  an  uncoined  state,  for  all  the 
purposes  of  exchange.  It  is  not  there,  as  in  other 
countries,  where  the  productions  of  the  earth  and  of 
art  are  sent  to  markets — foreign  or  domestic — to  be 
exchanged  for  the  precious  metals,  or  other  articles 
of  value.  There,  gold  not  only  supplies  the  medium 
of  domestic  trade,  but  of  foreign  commerce. 

"  At  first  view,  this  state  of  things  would  seem  to 
be  unfavorable  to  an  extensive  intercourse  with  other 
parts  of  the  world,  because  of  the  want  of  return 
freights  of  home  production  for  the  vast  number  of 
vessels  which  will  arrive  with  supplies. 

"  These  vessels,  however,  making  no  calculations 
on  return  cargoes,  will  estimate  the  entire  profits  of 
the  voyage  on  their  outward  freights,  and  become,  on 
their  arrival,  willing  carriers  for  a  comparatively  small 
consideration. 

"  This  tendency  in  the  course  of  trade,  it  would 
seem,  must  make  San  Francisco  a  warehouse  for  the 
supply,  to  a  certain  extent,  of  all  the  ports  of  the 
Pacific,  American,  Asiatic,  and  the  Islands. 

"  Almost  every  article  now  exported  by  them  finds 
a  ready  market  in  California,  and  the  establishment 
of  a  mint  will  bring  there  also  the  silver  bullion, 
amounting  to  more  than  ten  millions  per  annum,  from 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


161 


the  west  coast   of  Mexico,  and,   perhaps,   ultimately 
from  Chili  and  Peru,  to  be  assayed  and  coined. 

"  Vessels  bound  round  Cape  Horn,  with  cargoes  for 
markets  on  the_  American  coast  of  the  Pa-cine,  can,  by 
taking  advantage  of  the  south-east  trade  winds,  and 
'standing  broad-oif  the  Cape,'  make  the  voyage  to 
San  Francisco  in  as  short  a  time  as  they  can  to 
Valparaiso,  or  any  port  south  of  California.  Vessels 
have  sailed  from  our  Atlantic  ports  to  San  Francisco 
in  less  than  one  hundred  days,  and  they  have  been, 
in  more  than  one  instance,  over  one  hundred  and 
twenty  days  in  going  from  Panama  to  San  Francisco. 

"  This  astonishing  difference  in  time  and  distance 
was  caused  by  the  course  of  the  winds,  and  the  gulf- 
stream  of  the  Pacific,  mentioned  in  my  remarks  on  the 
climate  of  California. 

"  The  vessels  from  our  Atlantic  ports  took  advan 
tage  of  the  winds  by  steering  from  the  Cape  as  far 
into  the  Pacific  as  to  be  enabled  to  take  a  course  west 
of  the  gulf-stream  in  sailing  northward,  thus  availing 
themselves  first  of  the  south-east,  then  of  the  north 
east  <  trades,'  and  avoiding  opposing  currents. 

"The  vessels  from  Panama  were  kept  back  by 
calms,  adverse  winds,  and  currents.  It  will  be  per 
ceived,  therefore,  that  there  can  be  no  inducement  for 
vessels  bound  round  Cape  Horn,  with  mixed  or 
assorted  cargoes,  to  stop  at  Valparaiso,  Callao,  Guaya 
quil,  or  any  port  on  the  west  coast,  because  the  ex 
ports  of  all  those  places  will  seek  a  market  at  San 
Francisco ;  and  their  supply  of  merchandise,  as  return 
freight,  will  be  delivered  at  less  expense  than  it  can 
be  by  vessels  direct  from  Atlantic  ports,  American  or 
European.  This  tendency  of  trade  to  concentrate  at 
San  Francisco  will  be  aided  by  the  course  of  exchange. 


162  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"  Gold  dust  is  worth  but  $17  per  ounce  in  Chili.  It 
is  worth  §18  at  the  United  States  mint.  If,  there 
fore,  a  merchant  of  Valparaiso  has  ten  thousand 
ounces  in  San  Francisco,  received  in  payment  for 
lumber,  barley,  flour,  or  other  produce,  and  desires  an 
invoice  of  goods  from  the  United  States  or  Europe, 
he  will  gain  $10,000  at  the  outset  by  sending  his 
gold  to  New  York,  besides  saving  something  on  the 
freight  arid  insurance,  and  at  least  one  month's 
interest. 

"  The  countries  on  the  west  coast  of  America  have 
no  exports  which  find  a  market  in  China,  or  other 
parts  of  Asia.  San  Francisco  will,  therefore,  become 
not  only  the  mart  of  these  exports,  but  also  of  the 
products  and  manufactures  of  India,  required  in  ex 
change  for  them,  which  must  be  paid  for,  principally, 
in  gold  coin  or  gold  dust.  Neither  gold  coin  nor  gold 
dust  will  answer  as  a  remittance  to  China.  Gold,  in 
China,  is  not  currency  in  any  shape,  nor  is  it  received 
in  payment  of  import  duties,  or  taxes  on  land,  or  on 
the  industry  of  the  people. 

"  The  value  of  pure  gold  in  China  is  not  far  from 
$14  the  ounce.  Hence,  the  importer  of  manufactures 
and  products  of  India  into  San  Francisco  will  remit 
the  gold  coin  or  dust  direct  to  New  York,  for  invest 
ment  in  sterling  bills  on  London.  These  bills  will  be 
sent  to  London,  and  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  firm 
in  China  from  whom  the  merchandise  has  been 
received,  and  who,  on  learning  of  the  remittance 
having  gone  forward  to  their  agents,  will  draw  a  six 
months'  sight  bill  for  the  amount,  which  will  sell  in 
China  at  the  rate  of  four  shillings  and  two  pence  or 
three  pence  per  dollar. 

"  I  have  a  statement  before  me  from  one  of  the 


HISTOKY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


163 


most  eminent,  merchants  and  bankers  of  New  York, 
who  was  for  many  years  engaged  extensively  in  the 
India  trade,  which  shows  that  the  profit  or  gain  on 
ten  thousand  ounces  of  gold,  thus  remitted,  would 
be  $33,434  44 

And  that  the  loss  on  the  same  quantity, 

sent  direct  to  China,  would  be         .         15,600  00 


Total  difference  in  profit  and  loss  in  favor 

of  the  remittance  to  New  York,       .       $50,034  44 

"  It  will  thus  be  perceived  that  nature  has  so 
arranged  the  winds  and  currents  of  the  Pacific,  and 
disposed  of  her  vast  treasures  in  the  hills  and  moun 
tains  of  California,  as  to  give  to  the  harbor  of  San 
Francisco  the  control  of  the  commerce  of  that  ocean, 
as  far  as  it  may  be  connected  with  the  west  coast  of 
America. 

"Important  as  the  commerce  of  the  Pacific  un 
doubtedly  is,  and  will  be,  to  California,  it  cannot  now, 
nor  will  it  ever  compare  in  magnitude  and  value  to 
the  domestic  trade  between  her  and  the  older  States 
of  the  Union. 

"  Two  years  ago,  California  did  not  probably  con 
tain  more  than  fifteen  thousand  people.  That  portion 
of  it  which  has  since  been  so  wonderfully  peopled  by 
American  citizens  was,  comparatively,  without  inhabi 
tants,  without  resources,  and  not  supplied  with  the 
common  comforts  of  shelter  afforded  by  a  forest 
country. 

"Notwithstanding  the  great  distances  immigrants 
have  been  compelled  to  travel  to  reach  the  territory, 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  have  overcome  all 
difficulties  and  spread  themselves  over  its  hills  and 
plains.  They  have  been  supplied  from  distances  as 


164  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

great  as  they  themselves  have  passed  with  not  only 
the  necessaries,  but  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life.  Houses  have  been  imported  from 
China,  Chili,  and  the  Atlantic  States  of  the  Union. 
All  the  materials  required  in  building  cities  and 
towns  have  been  added  to  the  wants  of  a  people 
so  numerous,  destitute,  and  remote  from  the  sources  of 
supply. 

"  These  wants  will  exist  as  long  as  immigration  con 
tinues  to  flow  into  the  country,  and  labor  employed  in 
collecting  gold  shall  be  more  profitable  than  its  appli 
cation  to  agriculture,  the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  great 
variety  of  pursuits  which  are  fostered  and  sustained 
in  other  civilized  communities. 

"  This  may  be  shown  by  mentioning  the  prices  of  a 
few  articles.  Last  summer  and  autumn,  lumber  was 
sold  in  San  Francisco  at  $300  to  $400  per  thousand 
feet.  At  Stockton  and  Sacramento  City,  at  $500  to 
§600.  At  these  prices,  it  could  be  made  in  the  terri 
tory,  and  many  persons  were  engaged  in  the  business. 
I  perceive,  by  recent  accounts,  that  the  price  had 
fallen  at  San  Francisco  to  $75.  At  this  price,  it 
cannot  be  made  where  labor  is  from  $10  to  $15  per 
day;  and  the  difficulties  attending  its  manufacture 
are  much  greater  than  in  the  Atlantic  States.  Lumber 
can  be  delivered  in  our  large  lumber  markets  for  an 
average  of  the  various  qualities  of  $16,  and  freighted 
to  San  Francisco  for  $24,  making  $40  per  thousand 
feet.  This  price  would  cause  the  manufacture  of  it  in 
California  to  be  abandoned.  We  may  add  $20  per 
thousand,  to  meet  any  increase  of  price  in  the  article 
itself,  or  in  the  freight,  and  the  result  would  be  the 
same. 

"  It  is  probable  that  the  demand,  for  several  years 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


165 


to  come,  will  not  be  less  than  twenty  millions  of  feet 
per  annum,  which,  at  $40  per  thousand,  will  be 
$800,000. 

"When  California  comes  to  have  a  population  of 
200,000,  which  she  will  have  before  the  close  of  the 
present  year,  she  will  require  nearly  half  a  million 
barrels  of  flour  from  some  quarter,  and  no  country 
can  supply  it  so  good  and  cheap  as  the  old  States  of 
the  Union.  Including  freight  arid  insurance,  this 
may  be  set  down  as  an  item  of  about  $5,000,000.  The 
article  of  clothing,  allowing  $20  to  each  person,  would 
be  $4,000,000. 

w  There  is  no  pretension  to  accuracy  in  these  items, 
and  they  may  be  estimated  too  high ;  but  it  is  quite 
as  probable  they  are  too  low. 

""We  have  no  data  on  which  to  found  a  calculation 
of  what  the  value  of  the  trade  between  the  States  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  California  will  be  during 
the  current  year.  I  will  venture  the  opinion,  how 
ever,  that  it  will  not  fall  short  of  twenty-five  millions 
of  dollars.  It  may  go  far  beyond  that  sum.  At 
present,  I  can  conceive  no  cause  which  will  retard  or 
diminish  immigration. 

"  If  the  movement  shall  continue  five  years,  our 
commerce  with  that  territory  may  reach  one  hundred 
millions  per  annum.  This  is  doubtless  a  startling 
sum ;  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  we  have  to 
build  cities  and  towns,  supply  machinery  for  mining, 
coal  for  domestic  purposes,  and  steam  navigation,  and 
all  the  multifarious  articles  used  in  providing  the  com 
forts  and  luxuries  of  life,  for  half  a  million  of  people, 
who  will  have  transferred  themselves  to  a  country 
which  is  to  produce,  comparatively,  nothing  except 
minerals  and  the  precious  metals,  and  whose  pursuits 


166  HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


enable  them  to  purchase,  at  any  cost,  whatever 
may  be  necessary  for  their  purposes. 

"  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  or  calculate  the  effect 
which  will  be  produced  on  all  the  industrial  pursuits 
of  the  people  of  the  Old  States  of  the  Union,  by 
this  withdrawal  from  them  of  half  a  million  of  pro 
ducers,  who,  in  their  new  homes  and  new  pursuits, 
will  give  existence  to  a  commerce  almost  equal  in 
value  to  our  foreign  trade.  Let  no  one,  therefore, 
suppose  he  is  not  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Cali 
fornia.  As  well  may  he  believe  his  interests  would 
not  be  influenced  by  closing  our  ports  and  cutting  off 
intercourse  with  all  the  world. 

"  The  distance  round  Cape  Horn  is  so  great  that 
bread-stuffs  and  many  other  articles  of  food  deterio 
rate,  and  many  others  are  so  perishable  in  their  nature 
that  they  would  decay  on  the  passage.  This  would 
be  the  case  particularly  with  all  kinds  of  vegetables 
and  undried  fruits.  Until  some  more  speedy  mode 
of  communication  shall  be  established  by  which  pro 
duce  can  be  transferred,  the  farmers  and  planters  of 
the  old  States  will  not  realize  the  full  value  of  this 
new  market  on  the  Pacific. 

"  Many  other  important  interests  wrill  be  kept 
back,  especially  the  consumption  of  coal.  The 
American  steamers,  now  on  that  ocean,  those  on  their 
way  there,  and  others  shortly  to  be  sent  out,  will  con 
sume  not  far  from  one  hundred  thousand  tons  of  coal 
per  annum.  The  scarcity  of  wood  in  California  will 
bring  coal  into  general  use  as  fuel,  as  soon  as  it  can 
be  obtained  at  reasonable  prices.  Suppose  there  may 
be,  three  years  hence,  forty  thousand  houses,  which 
shall  consume  five  tons  each  per  annum.  This,  with 
the  steamers,  would  be  a  consumption  of  three  hundred 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


167 


thousand  tons.  If  delivered  at  $20  per  ton,  it  would 
compete  successfully  with  the  coal  from  Vancouver's 
Island  and  New  Holland,  and  amount  to  $6,000,000. 

"  The  construction  of  a  railroad  across  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama  would  secure  the  market  for  those  articles 
against  all  competition. 

"  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  demand  for  them 
from  the  prices  paid  in  San  Francisco  last  autumn. 
Coal  was  sold  at  $60  to  $100  per  ton ;  potatoes  $16 
per  bushel ;  turnips  and  onions  for  25  to  62J  cents 
each ;  eggs  from  $10  to  $12  per  dozen. 

"  The  distance  from  Chagres  to  New  York  has 
recently  been  run  in  seven  days.  The  same  speed 
would  carry  a  steamboat  from  Panama  to  San  Fran 
cisco  in  ten  days.  Allow  three  days  to  convey  freight 
across  the  Isthmus,  on  a  railway,  and  both  passengers 
and  freight  will  be  conveyed  from  New  York  to  San 
Francisco  in  twenty  days. 

"  This  celerity  of  movement  would  secure  for 
American  produce  the  entire  market  of  California. 
Sailing  vessels  may  be  successfully  employed  between 
our  Atlantic  and  gulf  ports  and  the  terminus  of  the 
railway  on  this  side  of  the  Isthmus ;  and  propellers 
from  Panama  to  San  Francisco.  These  latter  vessels 
will  be  found  peculiarly  suited  to  that  trade ;  they 
can  use  their  steam  through  the  calms  of  the  Bay  of 
Panama,  and  against  head-winds  and  currents  going 
north,  and  their  sails  with  favorable  winds  and  cur 
rents  coming  south. 

"  These  modes  of  conveyance,  in  connection  with 
the  railroad  across  the  Isthmus,  would  be  sufficiently 
expeditious  and  economical  to  turn  the  tide  of  com 
merce,  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  States  of  the 
Union,  into  that  channel.  The  tendency  of  our 


168  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

commerce  on  the  Pacific  to  promote  the  employment 
of  ocean  steamers  is  of  much  importance  as  connected 
with  the  defence  of  our  extensive  line  of  coast  from 
latitude  32°  to  49°,  the  protection  of  the  whale 
fishery,  and  other  branches  of  trade  on  that  ocean. 
The  establishment  of  a  line  of  heavy  steamers  to 
China  would  promote  all  these  objects ;  increase  our 
intercourse  with  that  country,  and  probably  be  the 
means  of  opening  communications  with  Japan.  Money 
wisely  employed  in  promoting  these  objects,  it  is 
believed,  would  add  more  to  the  power  and  prosperity 
of  the  country  than  its  expenditure  on  any  general 
system  of  fortification  at  the  present  prices  of  labor 
and  materials.  There  is  one  point,  however,  of  such 
vast  importance  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  taking 
the  necessary  steps  to  render  it  perfectly  impregnable 
— that  is,  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco. 
On  the  strength  of  the  works  which  may  be  erected 
to  defend  that  passage  will  depend  the  safety  of  Cali 
fornia  in  time  of  war  with  a  maritime  power.  Permit 
a  hostile  fleet  to  cast  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  San 
Francisco,  and  the  country  would  be  virtually  con 
quered. 

"  The  coast  has  not  been  surveyed,  nor  has  its  out 
line  been  correctly  ascertained.  There  are  many 
rocks  above  and  below  the  water-line,  and  small 
islands  not  mentioned  or  indicated  on  any  chart,  which 
render  navigation  near  the  land,  especially  at  night, 
extremely  dangerous. 

"  An  accurate  survey  of  the  coast,  to  commence  at 
the  most  important  points,  the  construction  of  light 
houses,  and  the  placing  of  buoys  in  proper  positions, 
are  objects  of  much  importance,  and,  it  is  not  doubted, 
will  attract  the  early  attention  of  Government." 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


169 


We  come  now  to  that  which  has  Luilt  up  so  rapidly 
this  empire  of  the  Pacific — the  metallic  and  mineral 
wealth  of  California.  As  to  the  extent  of  the  region, 
and  indications  of  the  existence  of  the  gold,  together 
with  the  attendant  geological  formations,  the  state 
ments  of  Mr.  King's  report  will  not  be,  nor  have  not 
been,  gainsayed ;  but  as  to  the  origin  of  the  gold, 
whether  in  combination  with  quartz,  or  mixed  with 
the  sands  of  the  ravines  raid  streams,  various  opinions 
have  been  expressed  by  these  who  have  spent  consi 
derable  time  in  working  and  observing  the  different 
formations.  That  due  weight  may  be  given  to  both 
of  the  principal  theories,  we  extract  the  observation 
and  opinion  of  a  person  who  favors  the  idea  of  the 
gold  having  been  scattered  over  the  country,  by  a 
tremendous  volcanic  eruption. 

"The  gold  found  in  every  placer  in  California 
bears  the  most  indubitable  marks  of  having,  at  some 
time,  been  in  a  molten  state.  In  many  parts  it  is 
closely  intermixed  with  quartz,  into  which  it  has  evi 
dently  been  injected  while  in  a  state  of  fusion ;  and  I 
have  myself  seen  many  pieces  of  gold  completely 
coated  with  a  bLick  cement  that  resembled  the  lava 
of  a  volcano.  The  variety  of  form,  which  the  placer 
gold  of  California  has  assumed,  is  in  itself  sufficient 
evidence  of  the  fact,  that  it  has  been  thrown  over  the 
surface  while  in  a  melted  state.  The  earliest  compa 
risons  of  the  California  gold  were  to  pieces  of  molten 
lead  dropped  into  water.  The  whole  territory  of  the 
gold  region  bears  the  plainest  and  most  distinct  marks 
of  being  volcanic.  The  soil  is  of  a  red,  brick  color,  in 
many  places  entirely  barren,  and  covered  with  a  flinty 
rock,  or  pebble,  entirely  parched  in  the  summer,  and 
during  the  rainy  season  becoming  a  perfect  mire.  The 
15 


13 


170  HISTORY   OF   CALIFOKNIA. 

formation  of  the  hills,  the  succession  of  gorges,  the 
entire  absence  of  fertility  in  many  portions,  distinctly 
exhibit  the  result  of  a  great  up-heaving  during  past 
times.  But  there  is  one  phenomenon  in  the  mining 
region  which  defies  all  geological  research  founded 
upon  any  other  premises  than  volcanic  formation. 
Throughout  the  whole  territory,  so  generally  that  it 
has  become  an  indication  of  the  presence  of  gold,  a 
white  slate  rock  is  found,  and  is  the  principal  kind  of 
rock  in  the  mining  region.  This  rock,  instead  of 
lying  as  slate  rock  does  in  other  portions  of  the  earth, 
in  horizontal  strata,  is  perpendicular,  or  nearly  so ; 
seeming  to  have  been  torn  up  from  its  very  bed  and 
left  in  this  position.  On  the  banks  of  the  Middle 
Fork  are  several  excavations,  which  can  only  be  ac 
counted  for  upon  the  supposition,  that  they  were  at 
some  time  volcanic  craters.  There  is  one  of  these  on 
the  mountain  side,  about  five  miles  below  the  "  Big 
Bar ;"  from  which,  running  down  to  the  base  of  the 
mountains,  is  a  wide  gorge  entirely  destitute  of  ver 
dure,  while  the  earth  around  it  is  covered  with  shrub 
bery.  This,  I  am  fully  convinced,  was  the  bed  of  the 
lava  stream  that  was  thrown  up  from  the  crater ;  and 
in  searching  for  gold  at  the  very  foot  of  it,  I  found 
several  pieces  entirely  covered  with  the  black  cement 
or  lava,  of  which  I  have  previously  spoken.  From 
all  these  evidences,  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  at  some 
early  date  in  the  world's  history,  by  some  tremendous 
volcanic  eruption,  or  by  a  succession  of  them,  gold, 
which  was  existing  in  the  form  of  ore,  mixed  with 
quartz  rock,  was  fused  and  separated  from  its  sur 
rounding  substances,  and  scattered  through  every 
plain,  hill,  and  valley,  over  an  immense  territory.  By 
its  own  gravity,  and  the  continual  washing  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


171 


rains,  it  sank  into  the  earth  until  it  reached  a  rock, 
or  hard,  impenetrable  clay.  It  still  continued  wash 
ing  and  sliding  down  the  hill-side,  until  it  reached  the 
rivers  or  ravines,  and  in  the  former  was  washed  along 
with  its  current  until  it  settled  in  some  secure  place 
in  their  beds,  or  was  deposited  upon  their  banks ;  and 
in  the  latter  rested  among  the  crevices  of  rocks."* 

The  following  from  Mr.  King's  report,  presents  the 
opposite  theory,  with  its  evidence  in  full.  The  two 
accounts  are  at  variance  both  in  regard  to  fact  and 
theory.  But  that  of  Mr.  King,  who  enjoyed  every 
facility  of  obtaining  information  from  observation,  and 
from  the  statements  of  intelligent  miners,  is  considered 
most  reliable,  in  respect  to  matters  of  fact,  and,  there 
fore,  of  more  dependence  in  forming  a  theory.  He 
says — 

"  The  principal  formation,  or  substratum,  in  these 
hills,  is  talcose  slate;  the  superstratum,  sometimes 
penetrating  to  a  great  depth,  is  quartz.  This,  how 
ever,  does  not  cover  the  entire  face  of  the  country, 
but  extends  in  large  bodies  in  various  directions — is 
found  in  masses  and  small  fragments  on  the  surface, 
and  seen  along  the  ravines  and  in  the  mountains, 
overhanging  the  rivers,  and  in  the  hill-sides  in  its 
original  beds.  It  crops  out  in  the  valleys  and  on  the 
tops  of  the  hills,  and  forms  a  striking  feature  of  the 
entire  country  over  which  it  extends.  From  innumer 
able  evidences  and  indications,  it  has  come  to  be  the 
universally  admitted  opinion,  among  the  miners  and 
intelligent  men  who  have  examined  this  region,  that 
the  gold,  whether  in  detached  particles  and  pieces,  or 
in  veins,  was  created  in  combination  with  the  quartz. 


Six  Months  in  the  Gold  Mines,  by  E.  Gould  Buffum. 


172  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Gold  is  not  found  on  the  surface  of  the  country 
presenting  the  appearance  of  having  been  thrown  up 
and  scattered  in  all  directions  by  volcanic  action.  It 
is  only  found  in  particular  localities,  and  attended  by 
peculiar  circumstances  and  indications.  It  is  found 
in  the  bars  and  shoals  of  the  rivers ;  in  ravines,  and 
in  what  are  called  the  '  dry  diggings.' 

"  The  rivers,  in  forming  their  channels,  or  breaking 
their  way  through  the  hills,  have  come  in  contact  with 
the  quartz  containing  the  gold  veins,  and  by  constant 
attrition  cut  the  gold  into  fine  flakes  and  dust,  and  it 
is  found  among  the  sand  and  gravel  of  their  beds  at 
those  places  where  the  swiftness  of  the  current  re 
duces  it,  in  the  dry  season,  to  the  narrowest  possible 
limits,  and  where  a  wide  margin  is,  consequently, 
left  on  each  side,  over  which  the  water  rushes,  during 
the  wet  season,  with  great  force. 

"  As  the  velocity  of  some  streams  is  greater  than 
that  of  others,  so  is  the  gold  found  in  fine  or  coarse 
particles,  apparently  corresponding  to  the  degree  of 
attrition  to  which  it  has  been  exposed.  The  water 
from  the  hills  and  upper  valleys,  in  finding  its  way  to 
the  river,  has  cut  deep  ravines,  and,  wherever  it  has 
come  in  contact  with  the  quartz,  has  dissolved  or 
crumbled  it  in  pieces. 

"  In  the  dry  season,  these  channels  are  mostly  with 
out  water,  and  gold  is  found  in  the  beds  and  margins 
of  many  of  them  in  large  quantities,  but  in  a  much 
coarser  state  than  in  the  rivers  ;  owing,  undoubtedly, 
to  the  moderate  flow  and  temporary  continuances  of 
the  current,  which  has  reduced  it  to  smooth  shapes, 
not  unlike  pebbles,  but  has  not  had  sufficient  force  to 
cut  it  into  flakes  or  dust. 

"  The  dry  diggings  are  places  where  quartz  contain- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  173 

ing  gold  lias  cropped  out,  and  been  disintegrated, 
crumbled  to  fragments,  pebbles,  and  dust,  by  the 
action  of  water  and  the  atmosphere.  The  gold  has 
been  left  as  it  was  made,  in  all  imaginable  shapes ; 
in  pieces  of  all  sizes,  from  one  grain  to  several  pounds 
in  weight.  The  evidences  that  it  was  created  in 
combination  with  quartz  are  too  numerous  and  striking 
to  admit  of  doubt  or  cavil.  They  are  found  in  com 
bination  in  large  quantities. 

"  A  very  large  proportion  of  the  pieces  of  gold 
found  in  these  situations  have  more  or  less  quartz  ad 
hering  to  them.  In  many  specimens,  they  are  so  com 
bined  .they  cannot  be  separated  without  reducing  the 
whole  mass  to  powder,  and  subjecting  it  to  the  action 
of  quicksilver. 

"  This  gold,  not  having  been  exposed  to  the  attrition 
of  a  strong  current  of  water,  retains,  in  a  great 
degree,  its  original  conformation. 

"  These  diggings,  in  some  places,  spread  over  val 
leys  of  considerable  extent,  which  have  the  appear 
ance  of  an  alluvion,  formed  by  washings  from  the  ad 
joining  hills,  of  decomposed  quartz  and  slate  earth, 
and  vegetable  matter. 

"  In  addition  to  these  facts,  it  is,  beyond  doubt, 
true  that  several  vein-mines  have  been  discovered  in 
the  quartz,  from  which  numerous  specimens  have  been 
taken,  showing  the  minute  connection  between  the 
gold  and  the  rock,  and  indicating  a  value  hitherto 
unknown  in  gold-mining. 

"  These  veins  do  not  present  the  appearance  of 
places  where  gold  may  have  been  lodged  by  some 
violent  eruption.  It  is  combined  with  the  quartz,  in 
all  imaginable  forms  and  degrees  of  richness. 

"  The  rivers  present  very  striking,  and,  it  would 
15* 


174 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


seem,  conclusive  evidence  respecting  the  quantity  of 
gold  remaining  undiscovered  in  the  quartz  veins.  It 
is  not  probable  that  the  gold  in  the  dry  diggings,  and 
that  in  the  rivers — the  former  in  lumps,  the  latter  in 
dust — was  created  by  different  processes.  That  which 
is  found  in  the  rivers  has  undoubtedly  been  cut  or 
worn  from  the  veins  in  the  rock,  with  which  their 
currents  have  come  in  contact.  All  of  them  appear 
to  be  equally  rich.  This  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  a 
laboring  man  may  collect  nearly  as  much  in  one  river 
as  he  can  in  another.  They  intersect  and  cut  through 
the  gold  region,  running  from  east  to  west  at  irregu 
lar  distances  of  fifteen  to  twenty,  and  perhaps  some 
of  them  thirty,  miles  apart. 

"  Hence  it  appears  that  the  gold  veins  are  equally 
rich  in  all  parts  of  that  most  remarkable  section  of 
country.  Were  it  wanting,  there  are  further  proofs 
of  this  in  the  ravines  and  dry  diggings,  which  uni 
formly  confirm  what  nature  so  plainly  shows  in  the 
rivers." 

It  is  an  interesting  inquiry — what  was  the  amount 
of  the  golden  treasure  collected  during  the  years  1848 
and  '49  ?  The  satisfaction  of  this  inquiry  will  enable 
us  to  form  some  faint  conception  of  the  value  of  the 
gold  region,  and  the  dependence  which  may  be  placed 
upon  its  yield  for  a  commercial  return.  Premising 
that  the  gold  was  first  discovered  in  May,  1848,  and 
that  intelligence  of  it  was  not  received  in  the  United 
States  till  late  in  the  following  autumn,  Mr.  King,  in 
his  report,  proceeds  in  making  an  estimate  of  the 
quantity  accumulated  till  the  close  of  1849 : 

"No  immigration  into  the  mines  could,  therefore, 
have  taken  place  from  the  old  States  in  that  year. 
The  number  of  miners  was,  consequently,  limited  to 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


175 


the  population  of  the  territory,  some  five  hundred  men 
from  Oregon — Mexicans,  and  other  foreigners,  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  country,  or  came  into  it  during 
the  summer  and  autumn — and  the  Indians,  who  were 
employed  by  or  sold  their  gold  to  the  whites. 

"  It  is  supposed  there  were  not  far  from  five  thou 
sand  men  employed  in  collecting  gold  during  that  sea 
son.  If  we  suppose  they  obtained  an  average  of  one 
thousand  dollars  each — which  is  regarded  by  well 
informed  persons  as  a  low  estimate — the  aggregate 
amount  will  be  $5,000,000. 

"  Information  of  this  discovery  spread  in  all  direc 
tions  during  the  following  winter ;  and,  on  the  com 
mencement  of  the  dry  season  in  1849,  people  came 
into  the  territory  from  all  quarters — from  Chili,  Peru, 
and  other  States  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  South  Ame 
rica;  from  the  west  coast  of  Mexico,  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  China,  and  New  Holland. 

"  The  immigration  from  the  United  States  came  in 
last,  if  we  except  those  who  crossed  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  and  went  up  the  coast  in  steamers,  and  a 
few  who  sailed  early  on  the  voyage  round  Cape  Horn. 

"  The  American  immigration  did  not  come  in  by 
sea,  in  much  force,  until  July  and  August,  and  that 
overland  did  not  begin  to  arrive  until  the  last  of  Au 
gust  and  first  of  September.  The  Chilenos  and  Mexi 
cans  were  early  in  the  country.  In  the  month  of  July, 
it  was  supposed  there  were  fifteen  thousand  foreigners 
in  the  mines.  At  a  place  called  Sonorariian  Camp,  it 
was  believed  there  were  at  least  ten  thousand  Mexi 
cans.  They  had  quite  a  city  of  tents,  booths,  and 
log-cabins ;  hotels,  restaurants,  stores,  and  shops  of 
all  descriptions,  furnished  whatever  money  could  pro 
cure.  Ice  was  brought  from  the  Sierra,  and  ice- 


176  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

creams  added  to  numerous  other  luxuries,  An  in- 
closure  made  of  the  trunks  and  branches  of  trees, 
and  lined  with  cotton  cloth,  served  as  a  sort  of  am 
phitheatre  for  bull-fights.  Other  amusements,  charac 
teristic  of  the  Mexicans,  were  to  bo  seen  in  all  direc 
tions. 

"  The  foreigners  resorted  principally  to  the  southern 
mines,  which  gave  them  a  great  superiority  in  nume 
rical  force  over  the  Americans,  and  enabled  them  to 
take  possession  of  some  of  the  richest  in  that  part  of 
the  country.  In  the  early  part  of  the  season,  the 
Americans  were  mostly  employed  on  the  forks  of  the 
American,  and  on  Bear,  Uba,  and  Feather  Rivers. 
As  their  numbers  increased,  they  spread  themselves 
over  the  southern  mines,  and  collisions  were  threat 
ened  between  them  and  the  foreigners.  The  latter, 
however,  for  some  cause,  either  fear,  or  having  satis 
fied  their  cupidity,  or  both,  began  to  leave  the  mines 
late  in  August,  and  by  the  end  of  September  many 
of  them  were  out  of  the  country. 

"  It  is  not  probable  that,  during  the  first  part  of 
the  season,  there  were  more  than  five  or  six  thousand 
Americans  in  the  mines.  This  would  swell  the  whole 
number,  including  foreigners,  to  about  twenty  thou 
sand  the  beginning  of  September.  This  period  em 
braced  about  half  the  season,  during  which  gold  may 
be  successfully  collected  in  the  rivers. 

"  Very  particular  and  extensive  inquiries  respect 
ing  the  daily  earnings  and  acquisitions  of  the  miners 
lead  to  the  opinion  that  they  averaged  an  ounce  per 
day.  This  is  believed  by  many  to  be  a  low  estimate ; 
but,  from  the  best  information  I  was  able  to  procure, 
I  am  of  opinion  it  approaches  very  near  actual  re 
sults.  The  half  of  the  season,  up  to  the  1st  of  Sep- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


177 


tember,  would  give  sixty-five  working  days,  and  to 
each  laborer,  at  §16  per  ounce,  §1,040.  If,  there 
fore  we  assume  §1,000  as  the  average  collected  by 
each  laborer,  we  shall  probably  not  go  beyond  the  mark. 

"  This  would  give  an  aggregate  of  §20,000,000  for 
the  first  half  of  the  season— §15,000,000  of  which 
was  probably  collected  by  foreigners.  During  the 
last  half  of  the  season,  the  number  of  foreigners  was 
very  much  diminished,  and,  perhaps,  did  not  exceed 
five  thousand.  At  this  time,  the  American  immigra 
tion  had  come  in  by  land  and  sea,  and  the  number  of 
our  fellow-citizens  in  the  mines  had,  as  was  estimated, 
increased  to  between  forty  and  fifty  thousand.  They 
were  most  of  them  inexperienced  in  mining,  and  it  is 
probable  the  results  of  their  labors  were  not  so  great 
as  has  been  estimated  for  the  first  part  of  the  season, 
and  experienced  miners.  Assuming  that  the  average 
of  half  an  ounce  per  day  ought  to  be  considered  as 
reasonable,  it  would  give  an  aggregate  of  about 
§20,000,000.  If  from  this  we  deduct  one-fourth  on 
account  of  the  early  commencement  of  the  wet  sea 
son,  we  have  an  estimate  of  §15,000,000 ;  at  least 
five  of  which  was  collected  by  foreigners,  who  pos 
sessed  many  advantages  from  their  experience  in 
mining  and  knowledge  of  the  country. 

"  These  estimates  give,  as  the  result  of  the  opera 
tions  in  the  mines  for  1848  and  1849,  the  round  sum 
of  §40,000,000  ;  one-half  of  which  was  probably  col 
lected  and  carried  out  of  the  country  by  foreigners. 

From  the  best  information  I  could  obtain,  I  am  led 
to  believe  that  at  least  §20,000,000  of  the  §40,000,000 
were  taken  from  the  rivers,  and  that  their  richness 
has  not  been  sensibly  diminished,  except  in  a  few 
locations,  which  had  early  attracted  large  bodies  of 


173  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

miners.  This  amount  has  principally  been  taken 
from  the  northern  rivers,  or  those  which  empty  into 
the  Sacramento ;  the  southern  rivers,  or  those  which 
flow  into  the  San  Joaquin,  having  been,  compara 
tively,  but  little  resorted  to  until  near  the  close  of  the 
last  season.  These  rivers  are,  however,  believed  by 
those  who  have  visited  them,  to  be  richer  in  the  pre 
cious  metal  than  those  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
gold  region." 

Adopting  the  hypothesis  that  the  gold  found  in 
these  streams  had  been  cut  or  worn  away  from 
the  veins  in  the  quartz  through  which  they  have 
force:!  their  way,  and  considering  the  fact  that  they 
are  all  equally  productive,  we  may  conjecture  what  a 
vast  amount  of  treasure  remains  undisturbed  in  the 
veins  which  run  through  the  masses  of  rock  over  a 
space  of  forty  or  fifty  miles  wide,  and  near  five  hun 
dred  miles  long.  Such  an  estimate  would  almost 
defy  our  belief ;  yet,  if  the  hypothesis  is  true,  there 
is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  value  of  the  gold  which 
that  region  will  yield,  is  almost  beyond  calculation. 

The  quicksilver  mines  of  California  are  believed  to 
be  numerous,  extensive,  and  very  valuable.  The 
largest  and  most  profitable  one  yet  opened  is  situated 
near  San  Josd,  and  belongs  to,  or  is  claimed  by,  Mr. 
Forbes,  of  Tepic,  in  Mexico.  The  cinnabar  ore,  which 
produces  the  quicksilver,  is  easily  procured,  and 
machinery  has  been  put  in  operation,  which  enables 
the  proprietor  to  make  an  extensive  profit.  The  value 
of  the  quicksilver  mines,  by  being  so  near  the  gold 
region,  is  considerably  increased ;  quicksilver  being 
almost  indispensable  in  gold  mining. 

Extensive  beds  of  silver,  iron,  and  copper  ores  are 
believed  to  exist  in  the  territory,  but  their  existence 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


1T9 


and  value  is  not  accurately  ascertained,  the  allure 
ments  held  out  by  the  continued  success  of  the  gold- 
miners  and  the  continued  discovery  of  new  and  profit 
able  placers  being  too  strong  to  permit  any  sqarch  for 
the  baser,  but  more  useful  metals.  Respecting  the 
propriety  of  the  establishment  of  a  mint  in  California, 
Mr.  King  makes  the  following  observations — 

"  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  propriety  of  estab 
lishing  a  mint  in  California.  This  is  important  in 
many  respects.  At  this  time,  there  is  not  coin  in  the 
country  to  supply  a  currency.  Much  difficulty  is 
experienced  in  procuring  enough  to  pay  the  duties  on 
imported  goods.  The  common  circulating  medium  is, 
therefore,  gold  dust,  which  is  sold  at  $15  50  to  $16 
per  ounce.  In  the  mines,  it  is  frequently  sold  much 
lower.  The  miners,  the  laboring  men,  are  the 
sufferers  from  this  state  of  things. 

"Those  who  purchase  and  ship  gold  to  the  Atlantic 
States  make  large  profits :  lut  those  who  dig  lose  ^vhat 
others  make. 

"I  have  estimated  that  there  will  be  $50,000,000 
collected  during  the  current  year.  At  §16  per  ounce, 
that  sum  will  weigh  3,125,000  ounces. 

"  Gold,  at  the  United  States  mint,  is  worth  §18 
per  ounce,  making  a  difference  in  value  on  that  quan 
tity,  between  San  Francisco  and  New  York,  of 
$6,250,000,  which  would  be  saved  to  the  miners,  by 
the  establishment  of  a  mint. 

"  I  have  also  suggested  its  importance  as  a  means 
of  promoting  and  increasing  our  trade  with  the  west 
coast  of  Mexico  and  South  America. 

"It  is  not  doubted  that  the  construction  of  a  rail 
way  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and,  perhaps,  the 
establishment  of  other  lines  of  communication  between 


180  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  two  oceans,  will  give  to  the.  products  and  manu 
factures  of  the  older  States  of  the  Union  command  of 
the  market  of  California  to  the  exclusion,  in  a  great 
degree,  of  those  of  the  west  coast. 

"A  mint  will,  therefore,  become  of  the  utmost 
importance,  to  give  such  marketable  value  to  silver 
bullion  as  to  enable  the  merchants  of  those  countries 
to  keep  up  and  increase  the  intercourse  with  our  prin 
cipal  ports  on  the  Pacific. 

"The  silver  bullion  shipped  to  Europe  from  the 
west  coast  of  Mexico  amounts  to  more  than  ten 
millions  of  dollars  per  annum.  From  the  countries 
on  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  probably  an 
equal  quantity.  That  from  Mexico  goes  to  pay  for 
European  importations  into  her  ports  on  the  Atlantic 
side. 

"  A  market  at  San  Francisco  for  this  bullion  will 
be  the  means  of  substituting  American  and  Chinese 
fabrics  for  those  of  European  manufacture  in  all  those 
countries.  This  will  greatly  increase  the  trade  between 
China  and  California." 

A  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  mint  at  San 
Francisco  was  introduced  into  Congress,  during  the 
present  session,  (1849-50)  and  passed  both  houses ; 
thus  securing  to  California  the  advantages  mentioned 
in  the  above  extract,  by  Mr.  King. 

We  have  thus  given  a  complete  description  of 
California,  in  respect  to  population,  climate,  soil, 
productions,  commercial  resources,  and  metallic  and 
mineral  wealth,  as  accurate  and  comprehensive  as  the 
most  authentic  sources  could  furnish,  or  as  could  be 
ascertained  at  the  present  time.  Although  the  terri 
tory  already  contains  a  large  population  and  has  pro 
duced  a  great  amount  of  treasure  in  the  short  dura- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


181 


tion  of  its  existence ;  although  it  is  already  a  large 
State,  which-  has  sprung  into  existence,  as  it  may  be 
termed,  there  is  every  evidence  that  this  is  but  the 
" beginning  of  the  end."  "The  greatest  is  behind." 
To  what  such  commercial  facilities,  mineral  and  metal 
lic  resources,  and  an  active  and  progressive  population 
will  conduct  California,  it  is  easy  to  imagine.  They 
will  build  up  a  State,  which,  although  the  member  of 
a  confederacy,  will  be  powerful  enough  to  maintain 
itself,  independent  of  the  aid  to  be  derived  from  the 
Union.  Its  ports  will  be  the  resort  of  the  vessels  of 
all  nations,  and  its  valleys  and  hill-sides  will  become 
the  homes  of  an  agricultural  population,  reaping  the 
rich  reward  of  their  toil.  Canals  and  railroads,  the 
children  of  enterprise,  will  soon  intersect  the  territory, 
transport  the  riches  of  one  section  to  another,  and 
increase  the  social  communication  of  the  inhabitants. 
Such  a  State  will  add  greatly  to  the  power  of  the 
confederated  republic,  and  form  an  additional  stimulus 
to  the  rapid  filling  up  of  the  vast  territory  situated 
between  California  and  her  sister  States. 


CHAPTER  XL 


THE   DIFFERENT   ROUTES   TO    CALIFORNIA,    AND   THEIR 


RESPECTIVE   CHARACTERS. 


THE  various  routes  taken  by  the  emigrants  to  Cali 
fornia  have  afforded  almost  as  much  matter  for  discus 
sion  as  the  territory  itself.     The  shortest   and  most 
travelled  route  is  that  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
16 


182  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Panama  ;  and  of  this  we  shall  first  give  a  description, 
with  recommendations  to  travellers,  and  the  experi 
ence  of  some  who  have  taken  that  route  to  the  "  land 
of  promise." 

Both  steam  and  sailing  vessels  are  constantly  en 
gaged  in  carrying  freight  and  passengers  from  the 
principal  ports  of  the  Atlantic  States  to  Chagres,  the 
principal  port  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Isthmus. 
Tickets  which  will  carry  passengers  to  Chagres,  and, 
after  crossing  the  Isthmus,  from  Panama  to  San  Fran 
cisco,  can  be  purchased  in  New  York,  from  whence  to 
Chagres,  the  passage  generally  occupies  about  eight 
days,  and  has  been  accomplished  in  seven.  The 
harbor  of  Chagres  is  a  small  but  good  one,  for  vessels 
of  less  than  two  hundred  tons  burden.  It  is  protected 
by  hills  on  all  sides  and  towards  the  ocean,  by  a  beet 
ling  cliff,  jutting  out  into  the  sea,  on  the  summit  of 
which  is  the  ancient  and  somewhat  dilapidated  castle 
of  San  Lorenzo.  At  the  base  of  this  cliff  is  the  chan 
nel  which  forms  an  entrance  to  the  town.  Ignorance 
of  this  fact  caused  the  wreck  of  several  of  the  vessels 
which  went  from  the  United  States  to  Chagres  soon 
after  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  gold  discovery. 
The  following  is  a  description  of  Chagres  and  its 
inhabitants  in  the  early  part  of  1849.  It  has  since 
improved  considerably,  on  account  of  the  travel  across 
the  Isthmus. 

"  The  first  thing  which  struck  our  wondering  gaze 
on  entering  Cliagrcs,  was  its  bee-hive  appearance.  It 
is  a  strange,  fantastic,  and  oddish-looking  town,  situ 
ated  in  a  deep,  dark  hollow  or  cove.  It  consists  of 
some  forty  or  fifty  huts,  with  pointed  palm-thatched 
roofs,  and  reed  Avails.  Nor  were  the  innumerable 
buzzards  which  were  flying  about  or  resting  on  the 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


183 


houses,  together  with  the  energetic  gesticulation  of  the 
natives  when  in  conversation,  as  we  drew  near,  at  all 
calculated  to  lessen  the  picturesque  eilcct  of  a  first 
view.  The  surrounding,  country  w.is  any  thing  but 
devoid  of  interest  and  beauty.  All  had  a  strange, 
equatorial  look ;  while  the  green  hills  around,  clothed 
with  rich  tropical  verdure,  and  the  graceful  and 
shadowy  palm  and  cocoanut,  with  other  strange  fan 
tastic  trees,  together  with  the  ruins  of  the  large  old 
Spanish  castle,  on  the  heights  above  the  town,  gave 
to  the  scenery  a  very  beautiful  and  picturesque  aspect. 
"  Most  of  us  were  soon  ashore  and  rambling  through 
the  town.  We  landed  at  the  beach,  on  some  logs, 
which,  during  the  rainy  season,  are  nemsary  to  pre 
serve  the  pedestrian  from  a  quagmire,  in  the  midst  of 
dense  foliage  that  was  here  luxuriant  to  the  water's 
edge,  surrounded  by  about  thirty  canoes  and  some 
forty  or  fifty  huge  black  fellows,  mostly  in  the  garb  in 
which  nature  arrayed  them.  We  passed  on  beneath 
a  burning  sun,  which  in  the  shade  brought  the  ther 
mometer  to  90°  of  Fahrenheit.  A  majority  of  the 
natives  are  black,  but  somo  are  of  a  deep  copper  or 
mulatto  color.  The  thick  lips  and  woolly  head  of  the 
African  ;  the  high  cheek-bones,  straight  hair,  and 
dogged  look  of  the  Indian  ;  and  the  more  chisled  fea 
tures  and  finely  expressive  eyes  of  the  Spaniard,  are 
all  here,  though  often  so  blended,  that  it  is  difficult  to 
say  to  which  race  they  chiefly  owe  their  origin.  In 
truth  they  are  a  mongrel  race,  but  generally  have  the 
most  magnificent,  large,  dark,  expressive  eyes  I  have 
ever  seen.  These,  when  in  conversation,  which  is 
almost  continual,  they  use  to  some  purpose,  while  the 
incessant  rapid  clatter  of  their  tongues,  and  their 
yiolent  gesticulations*  and  grimaces,  are  often  quite 


11 


184  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ludicrous.  The  females,  some  of  whom  have  rather 
pretty  faces,  and  particularly  fine  eyes,  were  dressed 
out  in  the  most  tawdry  finery,  with  divers  furbelows, 
flounces,  and  ruffles,  encircling  the  shoulders,  where 
the  dress  begins,  and  terminating  somewhere  about 
or  below  the  knee.  Some  of  the  younger  ones  were 
entirely  model  artiste,  at  least  so  far  as  their  clothing 
was  concerned,  but  the  forms  of  most  were  rather 
indifferent.  Many  were  sitting  or  lounging  about  the 
doors  or  in  the  cabins,  eating  tamarinds,  oranges,  and 
other  fruit,  surrounded  by  hairless  dogs,  pigs,  naked 
children,  turkey-buzzards,  and  some  other  little  live 
stock,  forming  altogether  quite  a  congruous  and  homo 
geneous  mixture. 

"  In  a  country  like  this,  where  the  temperature  is 
so  nearly  alike  throughout  the  year,  there  is  a  natural 
tendency  to  indolence  and  sloth,  and  it  is  remarkable 
what  an  influence  the  climate  exerts  on  the  character 
of  the  people.  Here  nature  with  a  bounteous  hand 
spontaneously  fructifies  the  earth,  and  the  natives, 
with  few  wants  to  supply,  pluck  the  fruit  and  are 
satisfied ;  and  with  few  necessities  for  enterprise  and 
industry,  such  is  their  love  of  indolence,  that  all  the 
charms  of  existence  appear  to  consist  in  dreaming 
away  life  in  quiet  and  repose.  Basking  beneath  a 
tropical  sun,  or  listlessly  reclining  on  nature's  downy 
couch,  days — years — are  passed  in  drowsy  languor 
and  supine  sloth. 

"  But  the  influx  of  men  from  rougher  climes  and 
bleaker  regions  will  probably  exercise  a  salutary  influ 
ence,  by  showing  them  the  advantages  of  industry 
and  patient  toil.  Already  they  begin  to  perceive 
this,  to  some  extent,  and  though  such  dear  lovers  of 
money,  that  in  closing  a  bargain  they  will  jabber  their 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


185 


patois,  or  bad  Spanish,  with  uncouth  gesticulations,  for 
half  a  day,  the  majority  of  them  are  unwilling  to  make 
any  extra  bodily  effort  to  procure  it ;  but  when  per 
suaded  by  liberal  offers  to  undertake  a  task,  it  is 
astonishing  with  what  dogged  perseverance  they  will 
often  pursue  it,  what  weights  they  can  support,  and 
what  toil  they  can  endure."* 

It  is  recommended  that  passengers  from  the  States 
should  remain  as  short  a  time  in  Chagres  as  possible. 
The  exhalations  from  its  malarious  atmosphere  are 
extremely  prejudicial  to  the  health  of  the  new-comer. 

From  Chagres,  the  travellers  proceed  in  canoes  up 
the  Chagres  river,  to  Gorgona,  a  distance  of  about 
fifty  miles,  or  eight  miles  further,  to  Cruces.  The 
canoes  are  mostly  owned  by  the  natives,  and  the 
greatest  care  is  necessary  to  get  them  to  keep  their 
agreement.  The  usual  plan  by  which  their  services  are 
secured,  is  this :  A  bargain  is  made  with  the  owner  of  the 
canoe,  stipulating  for  the  necessary  captain  and  poles- 
men,  and  then  some  of  the  party  going  up  the  river  in 
the  canoe,  take  possession  of  it,  and  maintain  it,  while 
one  goes  before  the  alcalde,  and  pays  the  whole  amount 
agreed  upon,  taking  a  receipt  in  Spanish.  This  pre 
caution  is  rendered  necessary  \  the  proprietor  of  the 
canoe  returning  the  money  to  those  who  engaged  it, 
on  finding  he  can  obtain  a  greater  price  from  others. 
At  the  present  time,  vessels,  steam  and  sailing,  are 
being  constructed  at  Chagres,  for  the  passage  up  the 
river,  the  increase  of  the  Isthmus  travel  rendering  it 
both  necessary  and  profitable. 

The  beauty  of  the  country  through  which  the 
Chagres  river  flows  has  been  the  theme  of  frequent 
praise.  Its  banks  are  filled  with  all  the  luxuriant 

••  Diary  of  a  Physician  in  California,  by  James  L.  Tyson,  M.  D. 

16* 


186  HISTOKY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

verdure  which  tropical  climes  produce.  The  tama 
rind,  the  date,  the  pomegranate,  the  plantain,  the 
banana,  the  cocoanut,  the  lime,  -the  citron,  and  the 
pine  apple,  arc  abundant.  Flowers  of  every  hue  send 
forth  their  fragrance  upon  the  air,  rendering  its  sweet 
ness  delightful  to  the  senses.  Orange  groves  are 
numerous,  and  the  fruit  is  as  plentiful  as  the  apple  of 
the  Southern  States  of  the  Union.  Mountains,  hills, 
and  valleys  diversify  the  prospect,  while  the  ear  is 
filled  with  the  melodious  notes  of  thousands  of  birds, 
native  of  the  tropics,  their  music  contrasting  with  the 
discordant  noise  of  the  parrots,  mackaws,  and  chat 
tering  monkeys.  Such  a  scene  is  worth  the  travel  to 
the  Isthmus,  and  the  toils  sometimes  endured  in  cross 
ing  it. 

Several  small  towns  and  ranches  are  scattered 
along  the  banks  of  the  river.  The  first  is  Gatun,  ten 
or  twelve  miles  above  Chagres.  About  ten  miles 
further  is  Dos  Hermano;  further  on,  Puro  Blanco, 
and  PalenquiM  last,  about  two-thirds  of  the  way  to 
Gorgona.  These  are  stopping  places  for  the  canoes, 
where  refreshments  and  supplies  can  be  procured. 

At  night,  parties  that  land  are  compelled  to  build 
fires  to  keep  off  the  wild  beasts  and  venomous  ser 
pents,  which  abound  in  the  neighborhood  .of  the  river, 
and  to  disperse  the  myriads  of  insects  with  which  the 
air  teems.  Alligators  of  a  large  size,  are  to  be  seen 
lying  on  the  banks  in  the  day  time,  basking  in  the 
sun.  Above  Palenquilla  are  some  powerful  currents, 
which  it  requires  considerable  toil  to  move  against. 
The  river  is  in  some  places  a  half  a  mile  wide,  and 
in  others,  not  more  than  thirty  yards.  The  boatmen 
are  exceedingly  indolent,  and  require  constant  driving 
and  coaxing  to  keep  them  moving;  but  sometimes, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


1ST 


when  they  are  prevailed  upon  to  go  to  work,  they  will 
exhibit  an  endurance  and  perseverance  almost  aston 
ishing.  They  have  been  frequently  known  to  work 
at  the  poles,  pushing  the  boat  along,  for  twenty-four 
hours,  without  rest.  The  difficulty  of  ascending  the 
Chagres  river,  may  be  appreciated,  when  it  is  stated, 
that  although  Gorgon  a  is  only  fifty  miles  from  the 
town  of  Ohagres,  it  frequently  occupies  as  high  as 
forty  hours  for  the  canoes  to  reach  that  place.  Stop 
pages  are,  of  course,  numerous,  both  on  account  of 
the  tiring  of  the  boatmen  and  for  refreshment. 

"  Gorgona  is  located  upon  a  bend  of  the  river, 
from  which  a  fine  view  of  the  river  and  valley  is  ob 
tained.  The  valley  is  here  about  five  miles  wide,  the 
mountains  rising  from  it  in  successive  ranges,  and 
with  increasing  elevations.  It  is  an  admirable  loca 
tion  for  a  town,  and  must  become  one  of  considerable 
importance — especially  should  it  be  on  the  route  of 
the  proposed  railroad  across  the  Isthmus.  It  has  a 
far  better  appearance  than  Chagres ;  the  streets  are 
laid  out  with  some  pretensions  to  regularity.  It  is 
the  head  of  canoe  navigation,  and  steamboats  of  light 
draft  can  approach  it.  The  dwellings  or  huts  are  of  a 
better  class  than  those  at  Chagres ;  they  have  an  un 
finished  Catholic  church  that  looks  rude  and  ragged, 
but  nevertheless,  it  is  a  church.  The  carrying  trade 
is  now  almost  the  only  business  pursued  by  its  inha 
bitants  ;  what  they  did  before  the  gold  of  California 
began  to  invite  a  swarm  of  adventurers  across  the 
Isthmus,  to  the  town  is  more  than  can  be  divined. 
Theirs  must  have  been  as  near  a  pastoral  or  primitive 
life,  as  any  that  can  be  seen  in  our  day.  The  soil  is 
teeming  with  the  evidences  of  its  richness — inviting 
the  hand  of  man  to  its  cultivation,  by  showing  what 


188  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

it  is  capable  of  doing  without  it — but  it  is  undis 
turbed,  save  in  a  few  stinted  spots  of  less  size  than 
our  ordinary  kitchen  gardens.  All  else  is  left  to 
spontaneous  production.  They  have  herds  of  cattle ; 
these,  with  game,  flesh,  fish,  and  fowl,  easily  pro 
cured,  must  have  been  their  principal  sustenance.  But 
it  is  with  them  as  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  w^ants 
increase  with  the  facilities  for  gratifying  them.  They 
are  rapidly  changing  their  habits  since  they  have  an 
opportunity  to  earn  money  and  luxuries,  that  they 
have  been  strangers  to,  are  brought  within  their 
means  and  their  reach. 

During  the  dry  season,  which  lasts  from  December 
till  June,  the  road  from  Gorgona  to  Panama  is  gene 
rally  preferred ;  at  other  times,  the  canoes  proceed 
up  the  river  about  eight  miles,  to  the  town  of  Cruces, 
and  take  the  road  leading  from  that  place  to  Panama. 
Each  of  these  routes  shall  receive  our  consideration, 
and  their  respective  advantages  and  disadvantages  be 
set  forth.  It  is  advisable,  that  travellers  should  rest 
as  short  a  time  as  possible  at  Gorgona,  as  accommoda 
tions  are  of  very  poor  character.  Mules  and  a  small 
species  of  mustang  are  easily  obtained,  but  the  mule 
is  far  preferable.  Some  travellers  find  it  a  great 
relief  to  walk  a  part  of  the  distance,  and,  with  that 
intention,  parties  hire  mules  or  horses  in  the  propor 
tion  of  two  to  every  three  travellers.  The  baggage 
will  have  to  be  placed  under  the  charge  of  the  native 
muleteers,  but,  from  their  observed  habits  of  filching 
wherever  they  get  a  chance,  it  is  advisable  not  to 
trust  them  out  of  sight.  There  are  several  places 
upon  the  route  where  refreshments  can  be  procured ; 
but  most  of  the  travellers  start  at  daylight  from  Gor 
gona,  and  push  directly  through  to  Panama,  in  one 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  189 

day.  This  is  the  best  mode  of  proceeding,  if  the 
fatigue  is  found  to  be  endurable ;  for  it  is  above  all 
things  important  that  in  such  a  climate  too  great 
fatigue  should  be  avoided.  The  following  account  of 
a  journey  to  Panama  by  way  of  the  Gorgona  road, 
and  descriptions  of  the  road  is  from  a  recently  pub 
lished  narrative : 

"We  arose  from  cot  and  hammock,  flea-bitten,  and 
but  little  refreshed,  though  ready  to  start  on  what  we 
deemed  our  perilous  journey  across  the  Isthmus. 
Hour  after  hour  elapsed,  till  the  most  pleasant  part 
of  the  day  was  gone,  and  the  sun  shone  with  torrid 
fervor ;  but  still  our  mules  were  not  ready,  our  host 
keeping  them  back,  as  we  afterwards  learned,  to  obtain 
a  higher  rate.  Annoyed  beyond  endurance  at  the 
delay,  and  the  tardy  movements  of  the  worthless  set 
around  us,  we  scoured  the  town,  and  at  length  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  four  miserable-looking  little  ani 
mals  at  eight  dollars  a-piece.  Another  was  still 
wanting,  and,  by  an  offer  of  ten  dollars,  I  at  length 
succeeded  in  getting  a  tolerably  good  one.  Though 
so  wretched  in  appearance,  we  found  these  animals 
capable  of  great  endurance. 

"  Glad  that  the  vexatious  and  irritating  events  of 
the  morning,  which  the  cupidity  and  dogged  laziness 
of  these  slothful  mongrels  had  produced,  were  happily 
ended,  we  hastily  swallowed  a  cup  of  bad  coffee,  handed 
by  a  damsel  nearly  nude,  and  mounting  our  Rosinantes, 
we  started  at  a  brisk  canter,  beneath  a  broiling  sun, 
while  our  guido,  all  stripped  and  on  foot,  trotted  off 
in  advance. 

"  For  the  first  mile,  the  way  was  very  pleasant  over 
a  nearly  level  plain,  at  the  termination  of  which  there 
were  stronger  indications  of  rougher  riding,  for  we 


190  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

soon  began  to  descend  a  nearly  perpendicular  preci 
pice,  the  only  pass,  down  which  was  a  narrow  mule- 
way,  where,  step  by  step,  these  animals  had  worn  a 
passage,  over  rocks,  loose  stones,  sand  and  mud.  We 
at  length  reached  the  bottom  of  the  ravine,  and,  cross 
ing  a  brook,  which  in  some  parts  was  a  wide  and  deep 
chasm,  we  commenced  a  toilsome  ascent  on  the  oppo 
site  side,  over  a  similar  pathway,  surrounded  by 
scenery  of  wild  and  unknown  plants  and  trees,  on  the 
mountain  and  glen,  through  whose  dense  foliage  a 
breath  could  scarcely  penetrate.  The  fervent  atmo 
sphere  produced  an  almost  stifling  sensation,  while  the 
deathlike  silence  that  reigned  throughout,  disturbed 
only  by  the  audible  footfall  of  our  animals,  as  we 
slowly  wound  around  the  tortuous  ascent,  made  the 
journey  peculiarly  toilsome  and  solitary. 

"  For  the  first  few  miles  I  followed  closely  at  the 
heels  of  our  guide,  and  would  often  pause  and  turn  to 
examine  the  apparently  almost  impassable  route  I  had 
traversed,  watch  the  progress  of  the  rest  of  the  party, 
and  wonder  at  the  security  with  which  their  cautiously- 
stepping  and  sagacious  animals  would  gradually  over 
come  seemingly  insurmountable  obstacles.  These 
mustangs  and  mules,  early  trained  to  travel  '  in  the 
wild  mountain  track,'  are  capable  of  great  endurance, 
and  certainly  possess  much  more  knowledge  than  most 
of  their  riders,  when  exercised  upon  what  they  consider 
the  safest  and  surest  stepping-place,  and  best  mode 
of  proceeding.  I  urged  mine  repeatedly,  to  make  him 
choose  a  path,  which  to  all  appearance  was  preferable 
to  his  own,  but  to  no  purpose.  He  would  turn  half 
round,  and  in  a  slow,  solemn  way,  put  his  nose  to  the 
ground,  and  looking  keenly  about  the  place,  would 
cautiously  put  one  foot  forward,  then  another,  then  a 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


191 


third  and  a  fourth,  when,  poised  on  all  drawn  under 
him,  and  close  together,  he  would  have  a  better  oppor 
tunity  for  further  inspection,  winch  having  satisfactorily 
accomplished,  another  equally  deliberate  and  cautious 
step  would  be  made  as  before,  down  what,  to  all 
appearance,  was  an  impracticable  route,  and  so  on, 
until  the  difficulty  was  overcome.  Finding  that  he 
knew  so  much  better  than  I  did,  how,  where,  and 
when  he  ought  to  travel,  I  invariably  threw  the  reins 
to  him,  when  hazardous  passes  or  other  obstacles  were 
to  be  surmounted.  The  result  was  always  fortunate. 
One  or  two  of  the  party,  however,  were  satisfied  that 
'horses  should  not  have  their  own  way,'  and  whipped 
and  spurred  theirs  to  such  an  extent,  to  compel  com 
pliance  with  their  better  judgment,  that  the  issue  was 
as  I  had  anticipated.  One  was  thrown  over  his  horse's 
head  into  a  mud  puddle,  and  the  other,  with  horse  and 
all,  stuck  fast  in  a  quagmire,  from  which  it  was  not 
easy  to  extricate  him.  Should  these  lines  ever  meet 
the  eye  of  those  worthy  gentlemen,  I  trust  they  will 
pardon  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  recording  here  their 
feats  of  muleship.  It  is  true  that  mine  stumbled  on 
some  loose  stones  once  or  twice,  in  descending  hills, 
and  my  efforts  alone  with  the  reins  saved  both  him 
and  me  from  a  fall ;  but  for  unmistakeable  judgment 
in  traversing  these  perilous  mountain-passes,  I  must 
admit  he  proved  himself  the  better  of  the  two. 

"  Thus  we  trudged  on,  often  over  difficult,  and  some 
times  dangerous  ways.  Occasionally  we  would  have 
to  go  up  or  down,  as  the  case  might  be,  for  nearly 
half  a  mile  at  one  time,  through  a  chasm  or  sluice, 
probably  worn  in  the  mountains  by  the  torrents  of 
water  that  descend  during  the  rainy  season.  These 
gully-holes  are  often  ten  and  fifteen  feet  deep  through- 


192  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

out  their  entire  extent,  and  the  passes  are  so  narrow, 
as  barely  to  admit  of  one  horse  or  mule  passing 
through  at  a  time ;  the  rider,  to  avoid  a  severe  contu 
sion,  or  probably  a  broken  limb,  in  turning  the  sharp 
angles,  being  compelled  to  place  his  feet  as  near  the 
animal's  head  as  possible,  and  in  this  manner  he  can 
ride  in  perfect  safety,  though  some  little  management 
is  requisite  to  maintain  an  equilibrium.  Before  enter 
ing  these  defiles,  the  muleteers  shout  at  the  top  of 
their  voices,  and  stop  for  a  short  time,  continuing  the 
shouting  as  they  advance,  to  apprize  others  at  the 
opposite  extremity  of  the  pass,  that  the  way  is  already 
occupied.  This  is  necessary  and  important,  for  if  two 
on  horseback  were  to  meet  in  one  of  these  narrow 
but  crooked  paths,  the  scene  between  the  Quaker  and 
Dandy  would  have  to  be  re-enacted,  for  many  news 
papers  would  have  to  be  read,  and  many  segars 
smoked,  before  either  could  turn  out  of  the  way  for 
his  neighbor. 

"  Continuing  on,  we  passed  two  or  three  Jiackalas, 
or  huts,  by  the  way,  and  after  several  brief  but  pleasant 
stoppages  at  the  various  brooks  and  mountain-rills,  we 
at  length  came  out  on  a  beautiful  undulating  meadow, 
where  picturesque  villas  and  shadowy  trees  decked  the 
verdant  plain,  and  soon  thereafter  the  towers  of 
Panama  were  in  view.  The  sun  was  just  setting  as  we 
entered  the  suburbs,  and  a  flood  of  purple  glory  rested 
on  the  sky,  reflected  back  by  the  sparkling  waters  of 
the  Pacific,  which  brought  the  distant  mountains  into 
bolder  relief,  and  cast  a  deeper  shadow  through  the 
twilight  groves.  Half  an  hour's  ride  over  the  paved 
street,  brought  us  to  the  city,  which  we  entered  at  the 
*  Gorgona  gate,'  passing  through  a  heavy  stone  arch- 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


193 


way,  supporting  a  cupola,  in  which  hangs  the  alarm 
bell  mounted  by  a  cross."* 

Such  is  the  character  of  the  Gorgona  road  to  Pana 
ma.  With  regard  to  the  Crucis  road,  we  may  observe 
that  it  is  a  common  practice,  for  most  of  those  who 
take  the  Gorgona  road  in  going  to  Panama,  on  their 
return,  to  take  the  Crucis  road,  no  doubt  hoping  that 
the  difficulties  and  toil  to  be  encountered  are  less  than 
those  they  know  are  to  be  met  with  upon  the  other. 
The  following  account  of  a  return  journey  by  way  of 
the  Crucis  road,  with  the  full  character  of  the  route, 
is  given  in  the  journal  of  a  returned  adventurer. 

"  I  had  passed  three  days  in  Panama ;  and,  feeling 
desirous  of  continuing  my  journey,  I  had  no  sooner 
concluded  this  arrangement,  than  I  got  my  mule  sad 
dled,  and  my  box  and  carpet-bag  packed  in  the  regular 
Isthmus  fashion.  The  mule  I  obtained,  like  most  of 
his  fellows,  was  little  better  than  a  mere  skeleton ; 
but  still  it  was  the  best  I  could  procure,  and  I  was 
fain  to  content  myself  with  it.  Some  of  my  friends 
endeavored  to  persuade  me  that  it  was  better  to  pro 
ceed  on  foot ;  but  I  knew  the  muddy  and  stony  nature 
of  the  road,  and  thought  it  infinitely  more  comfortable 
to  ride  a  slow  animal  than  subject  myself  to  the  suffer 
ings  that  I  must  experience  from  these  inconveniences. 

"  The  negro,  I  had  hired,  brought  to  my  hotel  a 
long  frame  of  bamboo,  with  a  sort  of  basket  at  the 
end,  into  which  he  crammed  my  luggage.  This  frame 
had  two  straps  fastened  to  the  upper  part  of  it, 
through  one  of  which  he  slipped  his  arm,  whilst  he 
passed  the  other  over  his  left  shoulder,  and  attached 
it  under  the  latter  to  the  frame  which  was  now  on 
his  back.  This  contrivance  not  only  effectually 

*  Diary  of  a  Physician  in  California,  by  James  L.  Tyson,  M.  D. 

17 


194  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

secures  the  load  in  its  place,  but  protects  the  shoulders 
of  the  bearer  from  the  continual  friction  they  would 
otherwise  undergo. 

"  A  large  party  had  preceded  me  ;  but  I  felt  no 
anxiety  to  overtake  it,  as  there  was  little  or  no  danger 
of  my  encountering  violence  on  the  route.  I  was 
armed  with  a  good  revolving  pistol,  in  the  event  of 
any  thing  of  the  sort  presenting  itself;  so  that,  all 
things  considered,  I  was  just  as  well  pleased  to  be 
left  to  my  own  society. 

"  I  proceeded  on  my  route  with  my  sable  attendant, 
and  found  the  commencement  pleasant  enough  travel 
ling,  the  road  for  some  distance  being  paved  with 
large  and  regularly  cut  stone.  This,  however,  soon 
terminated  in  abundance  of  sand ;  the  route  still  con 
tinuing  dry,  and  comparatively  easy  to  what  I  had 
expected  to  find  it.  Soon  after  we  had  quitted  the 
paved  road,  the  negro  stopped  and  asked  my  permis 
sion  to  take  a  few  things  to  his  family,  who  lived  in  a 
small  hut  to  our  left.  Apprehensive  that  he  was 
meditating  an  escape  with  my  luggage,  I  replied  that 
I  had  no  objection,  provided  he  would  leave  his 
basket  in  my  care.  He  accordingly  took  the  frame 
off  his  back,  and,  separating  a  small  bundle  contain 
ing  provisions  from  my  baggage,  he  took  his  departure. 
I  took  care,  however,  to  keep  him  in  sight  and  saw 
him  enter  a  wretched-looking  bamboo-hut  at  a  little 
distance  from  the  route.  He  remained  absent  a  con 
siderable  time ;  and,  having  paid  him  half  his  wages 
in  advance,  according  to  the  usual  custom  with  these 
people,  who  are  exceedingly  distrustful,  I  began  to 
fear  that  he  was  about  to  desert  me,  and  therefore 
called  out  lustily,  until  at  last  I  saw  him  reluctantly 
emerge  from  the  hut,  and  make  his  way  towards  ine. 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  195 

These  negroes  being  constantly  in  the  habit  of  desert 
ing  travellers  on  the  route,  and  stealing  their  bag 
gage  whenever  the  opportunity  presents  itself,  I  was 
particularly  careful  not  to  lose  sight  of  my  attendant. 
"  A  few  miles  further  on,  I  again  found  myself  on 
a  stone  road,  said  to  have  been  paved  by  Cortes  to 
facilitate  the  passage  of  his  troops  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  coast ;  and,  although  I  have  travelled 
rougher  and  steeper  routes  in  Lower  California,  I  can 
not  say  that  I  have  ever  encountered  such  a  combina 
tion  of  petty  difficulties  and  annoyances.  The  road 
is,  for  the  greater  part,  barely  wide  enough  to  admit 
of  one  mule  passing  with  its  packs,  the  sides  forming 
steep  embankments,  composed  chiefly  of  rich  clay, 
but,  in  many  places,  of  large  rocks,  through  which  a 
passage  had  evidently  been  cut  with  great  labor. 
But  little  of  the  country  can  be  seen  on  either  side, 
owing  to  the  height  of  these  embankments  ;  but  now 
and  then  the  traveller  obtains  a  glimpse  of  dense 
thickets,  and  occasionally  of  undulating  hills,  the 
summits  of  which  are  covered  with  a  deep  perennial 
green.  The  recent  rains  having  poured  in  torrents 
down  the  steep  sides  of  the  road,  every  cavity  and 
crevice  was  filled  with  water  and  mud.  Owing  to  the 
nature  of  the  soil,  and  the  constant  traffic  across  the 
route  from  the  time  it  was  originally  cut  through, 
innumerable  stones  and  flags  had  sunk  considerably 
below  the  level  of  their  original  position ;  whilst  a 
few  had  retained  their  places,  as  if  to  serve  as  step 
ping-stones  to  the  traveller  over  the  wet  and  mud. 
It  is  a  task  of  incessant  and  wearying  exertion,  how 
ever,  even  for  those  who  are  mounted  on  mules,  to 
avoid  floundering  into  some  of  these  pitfalls  and  quag 
mires  at  every  step  they  make. 


196  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"  The  mules  themselves  are,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
so  worn-out,  and  broken-down,  that  it  requires  the 
utmost  vigilance  and  care  on  the  part  of  their  riders 
to  prevent  them  dropping,  and  precipitating  them  into 
the  mire.  In  order  to  guard  as  much  as  possible 
against  this  contingency,  whenever  ladies  travel  this 
route,  they  are  obliged  to  discard  the  side-saddle,  and 
resort  to  a  less  feminine  style  of  equitation.  I  overtook 
a  party  of  about  twenty  persons  on  the  road,  amongst 
whom  was  a  married  lady  on  her  way  to  the  States ; 
and  I  watched  her  rather  curiously,  to  observe  how 
she  got  over  the  difficulties  that  beset  her.  Being 
fortified  with  that  article  of  male  attire,  the  figurative 
possession  of  which  is  said  to  denote  domestic  ascen 
dency,  she  thought  it  incumbent  upon  her,  I  suppose, 
to  display  all  the  courage  and  nerve  that  should 
properly  be  encased  in  it.  Several  times,  when  I 
fancied  that  both  she  and  her  mule  were  on  the  point 
of  being  capsized,  she  recovered  herself  with  ad 
mirable  presence  of  mind,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the 
risk  exceedingly. 

"As  to  myself,  I  floundered  on  as  well  as  I  could 
with  a  mule  tottering  beneath  me  from  sheer  exhaus 
tion,  and  sinking  every  minute  up  to  his  knees  in 
mud.  It  seemed  to  me  that  we  were  making  little  or 
no  progress ;  and  I  became  thoroughly  tired  and  dis 
heartened.  I  do  not  know  any  temptation,  however 
powerful,  that  would  again  induce  me  to  encounter 
the  never-ending  series  of  difficulties  and  annoyances 
that  laid  in  wait  for  me  at  every  step  ;  and  I  must 
candidly  own,  that  even  the  force  of  female  example, 
of  which  I  had  so  merry  a  specimen  before  me,  did 
not  at  all  shame  me  into  a  less  impatient  endurance 
of  them. 


CROSSING   THE    ISTHMUS. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


197 


"  The  negroes  whom  I  met  on  their  way  to  and 
from  Panama  excited  my  astonishment,  from  the 
amount  of  physical  exertion  which  they  seemed 
capable  of  undergoing.  With  their  legs  and  feet  bare, 
and  nothing  but  a  cloth  around  their  loins,  they  car 
ried  enormous  burdens  on  their  backs,  stepping  from 
stone  to  stone  with  wonderful  strength  and  dexterity. 
These  poor  creatures  must  lead  the  most  wretched 
and  laborious  of  all  the  painful  modes  of  existence  to 
which  their  race  is  condemned ;  and  not  even  long 
habit,  or  their  peculiar  physical  construction,  can  di 
vest  it  of  its  distressing  character  in  the  eyes  of  a 
stranger.  They  all  bear,  on  their  hard  and  wrinkled 
faces,  the  stamp  of  overtaxed  strength ;  but  they 
seemed  content  with  their  lot,  and  will,  doubtless, 
regret  the  formation  of  a  better  route,  as  tending  to 
depreciate  the  value  of  their  services.  Notwithstand 
ing  the  toilsome  and  laborious  nature  of  their  occupa 
tions,  however,  the  carriers  of  Panama  are  the  hardi 
est  and  most  muscular  race  to  be  seen  here ;  for  the 
rest  of  the  population,  both  white  and  black,  are  of 
comparatively  sickly  and  diminutive  appearance. 

"  Moving  gomewhat  like  a  ship  in  a  storm,  rising 
and  sinking  alternately  at  stern  and  bow,  surmounting 
first  one  huge  stone,  then  a  deep  mud  hole,  then 
another  stone,  and  then  a  small  lake,  my  mule  and  my 
self  at  last  reached  Crucis  in  the  evening,  the  whole 
distance  traversed  not  being  above  twenty  miles."* 

The  town  of  Crucis  is  a  place  very  similar  to  Gor- 
gona,  but  not  so  large.  The  houses  are  built  of  cane 
and  plastered  with  mud.  No  attention  is  given  to 
arrangement,  and  but  a  small  portion  is  so  constructed 

•  Personal  Adventures  in  California,  by  W.  Redmond  Ryan. 


15 


198  IIISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

as  to  bear  any  resemblance  to  a  street.  The  climate 
is  unhealthy,  and  travellers  from  the  United  States 
make  as  short  a  stay  there  as  possible.  Doubtless, 
with  the  increase  of  travel,  the  character  of  the  town 
and  its  accommodations  will  improve ;  but  the  heat 
and  humidity  of  the  atmosphere,  particularly  just 
after  the  rainy  season,  cause  a  great  deal  of  injury  to 
the  health  of  people  from  the  United  States,  and  will 
prevent  any  considerable  settlement  of  Anglo-Saxons 
in  the  town. 

Panama,  the  terminus  of  the  varied  and  difficult 
route  across  the  Isthmus,  is  situated  on  the  shore  of 
an  extensive  and  beautiful  bay.  It  contains  about 
eight  thousand  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  are  negroes. 
Being  one  of  the  old  Spanish  towns,  upon  the  decline 
of  the  Spanish  power,  the  place  fell  into  decay.  The 
houses  are  generally  of  stone  or  brick,  two  and  three 
stories  in  height,  whitewashed  or  covered  with  a  coat 
of  plaster,  and  are  invariably  surrounded  by  a  bal 
cony  protected  from  sun  and  rain  by  the  roofs  of  the 
houses  extending  over  them.  The  town  is  regularly 
arranged,  the  strait  and  narrow  streets  intersecting 
each  other  at  right  angles.  The  substantial  character 
of  the  buildings  as  well  as  the  evidences  of  neglect 
and  decay,  strike  the  traveller  at  the  same  time.  A 
wall  was  built  by  the  Spaniards,  around  the  portion 
of  the  town  nearest  the  bay,  but  at  least  one  half  of 
the  population  reside  beyond  its  limits,  and  it  is  in  a 
dilapidated  state.  A  'venerable,  decayed,  but  still 
imposing  cathedral ;  a  grand  plaza,  or  open  common 
— a  general  characteristic  of  Spanish  built  towns ; 
several  churches,  partly  in  ruins;  the  ruins  of  the 
College  of  Jesuits,  which  cover  a  large  extent,  and  of 
two  monasteries,  of  which  the  walls  and  bells  alone 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


199 


remain ;  and  the  frowning  walls  and  towers  of  the 
battery,  fronting  the  bay,  are  the  principal  features 
of  the  town  of  Panama.  Since  the  commencement 
of  the  emigration  to  California,  a  number  of  Ameri 
cans  have  established  hotels  and  eating-houses  in  the 
town,  and  good  accommodations  are,  therefore,  to  be 
obtained  by  travellers. 

The  atmosphere  at  Panama  is  particularly  injurious 
to  people  from  the  northern  climes,  and  great  care 
must  be  taken  by  travellers  during  their  stay  at  that 
place.  It  is  best  to  avoid  eating  fruit  altogether ;  but, 
if  indulged  in,  it  should  be  in  very  inconsiderable 
quantities.  Exposure  to  the  mid-day  sun  is  a  fre 
quent  cause  of  sickness  among  the  travellers,  tind 
should  be  avoided,  as  well  as  exposure  to  the  rain. 
During  the  rainy  season,  the  vomito  is  often  prevalent 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Panama,  and  is  generally  a 
fatal  disease;  but  there  is  a  great  deal  less  travel 
across  the  Isthmus  during  that  season,  on  account  of 
the  sickliness  of  the  climate  and  the  difficulties  of  the 
route.  A  sort  of  bilious  fever  and  dysentery  are  the 
most  common  forms  of  disease  among  travellers  from 
the  north  ;  but  both  may  be  avoided  by  proper  care. 

From  Panama,  steamships  of  superior  size  and 
accommodation,  convey  passengers  to  San  Francisco. 
Starting  from  the  front  of  the  city,  the  beautiful  bay, 
with  its  semi-circular  shores  skirted  with  green  foliage 
and  inclosed  with  high  mountains,  and  the  lofty 
islands  of  Flamingo,  Perico,  Taboga,  and  others, 
present  themselves  to  the  view.  At  the  island  of  Ta 
boga,  all  the  vessels  that  come  into  the  bay  obtain 
their  supplies,  and  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Com 
pany  have  established  their  depot  for  coal,  &c.,  on 
its  shores.  After  obtaining  all  the  necessary  supplies, 


200  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the  steamship  moves  out  of  the  bay,  rounding  Point 
Mala.  The  voyage  upon  the  Pacific,  with  all  its 
variety  of  incident  and  scenery,  then  commences. 
The  principal  annoyance  of  travellers  is  the  almost 
intolerable  heat  of  the  sun  and  furnaces  of  the  steam 
ship  united.  Water-spouts  and  different  species  of 
whale  are  frequent  sights.  North  of  the  Gulf  of  Te- 
huantepec,  the  steamer  nears  the  land,  and  the  bold 
mountain  coast  of  Mexico  breaks  upon  the  view,  and, 
at  night,  the  passengers  enjoy  a  view  of  the  glaring 
light  produced  by  the  burning  volcano  of  Colima  ; 
though  the  volcano  itself  is  but  imperfectly  seen, 
being  at  the  distance  of  ninety  miles  from  the  vessel. 
Soon  after  this  fades  from  the  view,  the  islands  off  the 
town  of  San  Bias  appear,  and  an  immense  white  rock, 
isolated  from  the  sea,  serving  as  a  lighthouse  to  ships 
steering  for  the  port.  At  San  Bias,  the  steamships 
remain  some  time,  to  obtain  supplies  of  coal,  fresh 
fruits,  and  provisions.  These  indispensables  having 
been  procured,  the  vessel  proceeds  upon  her  voyage. 
Cape  Corientes  next  appears,  and,  soon  afterwards, 
the  entrance  to  the  Gulf  of  California  is  approached  ; 
and  then,  Cape  San  Lucas,  the  extreme  southern 
point  of  California,  with  its  mountains  and  rocky 
shores,  is  hailed  by  the  traveller  as  the  first  portion  of 
the  "promised  land"  that  greets  his  sight.  Passing 
along  the  western  coast  of  the  peninsula,  the  island 
and  bay  of  Magdalcna  appear,  with  shores  three  or 
four  thousand  feet  above  the  sea.  Next,  the  towering 
ridges  of  Cerros  Isles  are  passed,  and  the  bold,  rocky 
shores  of  the  peninsula  are  in  continual  view.  The 
change  of  the  temperature  of  the  air  is  generally 
keenly  felt  by  those  who  do  not  take  care  to  provide 
against  it.  Within  a  few  days  after  leaving  Panama, 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


201 


the  thermometer  falls  from  95°  to  55°,  and  such  a 
change  must  have  an  injurious  effect,  if  additional 
clothing  is  not  put  on  to  meet  it. 

The  first  portion  of  Upper  California,  or  the 
"Golden  Land,"  which  presents  itself  to  the  voy 
agers,  is  the  Ceronados,  two  high,  round-topped  rocks 
off  the  port  of  San  Diego.  Then  the  beautiful,  semi 
circular  harbor  is  entered,  and  if  wanting,  supplies 
are  obtained  from  the  town.  From  the  harbor  of  San 
Diego,  the  vessel  proceeds  along  the  coast  of  Califor 
nia,  and  the  towering  peaks  of  the  coast  range  of 
mountains,  engage  the  attention.  The  high  pro 
montory  of  St.  Vincent  is  passed,  and  then  the  open 
bay  of  Monterey  is  entered,  and  passengers  are  either 
let  off  the  steamer  or  taken  aboard  as  necessity  may 
occasion.  From  Monterey  the  steamer  keeps  along 
the  coast,  and  mountainous  shores  alone  meet  the 
view,  until  tho  voyagers  come  in  sight  of  the  Faral- 
lones,  two  large  detached  rocks  at  the  southern  side 
of  the  entrance  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco.  Then 
the  Golden  Gate,  as  the  strait  or  entrance  is  called,  is 
entered  by  the  steamer,  and  the  perpendicular  cliffs 
and  hills  upon  each  shore  afford  matter  for  wonder. 
The  strait  is  about  three  miles  long,  and  from  one  to 
two  miles  broad.  As  the  vessel  reaches  its  terminus, 
the  great  bay  of  San  Francisco  opens  to  the  view, 
looking  like  a  miniature  ocean.  Bird  Island,  Wood 
Island,  Angel  Island,  with  the  beautiful  little  bay  of 
Sancelito,  successively  meet  the  gaze,  and  very  soon 
the  steamer  is  anchored,  having  reached  her  destina 
tion.  Such  is  the  Isthmus  route  to  the  "gold  re 
gion."  It  is  the  shortest  route,  or  the  one  which  oc 
cupies  the  least  time  in  traversing,  presents  great 


202  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

variety,  and  upon  the  whole,  its  beauties  and  plea 
sures  outnumber  the  difficulties  and  annoyances. 

THE   OVERLAND   ROUTE. 

WE  now  proceed  to  give  the  general  character  and 
direction  of  that  which  is  considered  the  best  land 
route  to  California,  and  which  is  the  most  travelled 
by  emigrants.  The  principal  advantage  possessed  by 
this  route  may  be  stated  in  a  few  words.  It  is  the 
shortest  route  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  and  the 
gold  region.  The  Indians  upon  the  route  are  friendly 
and  very  few  acts  of  hostility  have  been  committed. 
The  trail  is  plain  and  good  where  there  are  no  physical 
obstructions.  To  these  must  be  added  the  certainty 
of  the  emigrants  reaching  their  place  of  destination, 
in  good  season ;  which  will  not  exist,  if  new  and  un 
explored  routes  are  attempted.  The  greatest  cala 
mities  and  sufferings  have  been  endured  by  those  who 
have  either  taken  an  entirely  different  route,  or  de 
viated  from  the  line  which  we  will  describe.  Advice 
concerning  the  time  of  starting,  preparations,  &c., 
will  be  interspersed  in  the  description. 

The  starting  point,  and  the  general  rendezvous  for 
emigrants,  is  the  town  of  Independence,  Missouri,  sit 
uated  about  six  miles  from  the  Missouri  River,  on  the 
south  side  of  it.  This  town  has  been,  for  many  years, 
the  principal  outfitting  point  for  the  Santa  Fe  traders, 
and  contains  about  two  thousand  inhabitants.  Emi 
grants  should  be  at  the  starting  place  by  the  20th  of 
April,  and  start  upon  their  journey  as  soon  thereafter 
as  the  grass  will. permit.  The  outfit  of  companies  of 
emigrants  would  be  too  tedious  to  mention,  and  as  it 
varies  considerably,  from  differences  of  means  and 
taste,  a  description  would  hardly  be  accurate.  But 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


203 


there  are  certain  things  which  are  indispensable  to 
those  who  take  this  route,  and  these  we  will  mention. 
With  respect  to  wagons  and  teams,  the  lightest  wagon 
that  can  be  constructed  of  sufficient  strength  to  carry 
2,500  pounds  weight,  is  the  vehicle  most  desirable. 
This  can  be  drawn  by  three  or  four  yokes  of  oxen,  or 
six  mules  ;  oxen  are  usually  employed  for  this  purpose. 
Pack  mules  can  only  be  employed  by  parties  of  men ; 
but  the  journey  can  be  made  in  great  deal  less  time 
with  mules  than  with  oxen.  The  provisions  taken  by 
the  companies,  consist  mainly  of  flour,  bacon,  coffee, 
and  sugar ;  besides  these  indispensables,  there  is  rice, 
crackers,  salt,  pepper,  and  other  luxuries  of  light 
weight.  As  to  the  quantity  necessary,  that  may  be 
determined  by  considering  the  length  of  the  route 
and  the  average  number  of  miles  which  the  emigrants 
travel  per  day.  From  Independence  to  the  first  set 
tlement  in  California,  which  is  near  the  gold  region, 
it  is  about  two  thousand  and  fifty  miles — to  San  Fran 
cisco,  2,290  miles.  Oxen  teams  travel  about  fifteen 
miles  per  day  upon  an  average.  At  that  rate,  it  would 
require  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  days  to  reach  the 
first  settlement  in  California.  Allowance  should  be 
made  for  stoppages  by  accident.  Every  man  should 
be  provided  with  a  good  rifle,  a  pair  of  pistols,  with  a 
quantity  of  ammunition,  and  a  bowie  knife  and  hatchet, 
in  his  belt.  A  set  of  carpenter's  tools  is  also  necessary. 
Starting  from  Independence,  and  travelling  a  few 
miles  over  a  good  road,  the  first  prairie  opens  upon 
the  view.  This  is  called  the  Blue  Prairie,  and  pre 
sents  a  surface  undulating  and  clothed  with  rich  ver 
dure.  In  crossing  this  prairie,  violent  storms  often 
overtake  the  emigrants,  and  to  those  who  have  not 
been  accustomed  to  it,  the  scene  during  the  storm  is 


204  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

terrifically  grand.  Fourteen  miles  travel  upon  the 
prairie  brings  the  emigrants  to  the  "Blue  Creek," 
which  is  fordable,  except  after  a  heavy  rain.  Ford 
ing  the  creek  and  crossing  the  timbered  bottom  of  the 
stream,  another  magnificent  prairie  is  entered,  which 
is  beyond  the  Missouri  line,  and  within  the  Indian  ter 
ritory.  Sixteen  miles  travel  over  this  beautiful  plain 
brings  the  emigrant  to  Indian  Creek,  the  banks  of 
which  usually  serve  for  a  place  of  encampment.  The 
prairie  offers  the  best  pasturage  for  cattle ;  but  con 
stant  watching  is  necessary  to  keep  them  from  stray 
ing  away  and  returning  to  the  settlements.  From 
Indian  Creek,  the  emigrants  proceed  across  the  prairie, 
along  the  Santa  Fe  trail,  for  about  fifteen  miles,  and 
then  leave  it,  turning  off  to  the  right  hand.  Cross 
ing  several  deep  ravines,  which  are  very  difficult  of 
passage  in  rainy  weather,  the  emigrants  arrive  on  the 
banks  of  the  Werkarusa  Creek.  This  is  another 
favorite  place  of  encampment,  groves  of  trees  being 
on  each  side  of  it.  From  this  creek,  the  route  is  over 
the  high-rolling  prairie,  upon  a  smooth  and  hard  trail. 
The  want  of  water  is  the  only  annoyance  that  is  ex 
perienced  by  the  travellers,  and  a  long  day's  journey 
is  necessary  to  bring  them  to  the  nearest  creek — a 
branch  of  the  Kansas  River.  The  banks  of  the  creek 
are  steep,  and  considerable  toil  is  requisite  to  cross  it. 
The  crossing  of  the  Kansas  River  is  the  next  diffi 
culty  to  be  met.  There  is  a  regular  ferry  about  five 
miles  from  where  the  emigrants  cross  the  tributary 
creek.  At  that  place  the  river  is  never  more  than 
two  hundred  yards  wide,  even  after  heavy  rains.  The 
wagons  are  placed  in  boats,  owned  by  the  Indians, 
and  transported  to  the  opposite  shore  for  the  sum  of 
one  dollar  per  load.  The  oxen  and  horses 'are  com- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


205 


pelled  to  swim  across.  Following  the  trail  for  about 
three  miles,  a  place  of  encampment,  on  the  banks  of 
Soldier  Creek,  is  reached.  The  soil  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  the  Kansas  is  luxuriantly  productive,  and  the 
most  refreshing  verdure  meets  the  eye  along  the 
trails  from  that  river  to  Soldier  Creek.  The  route 
is  then  pursued  over  a  flat  plain — boggy  in  some 
places — for  several  miles,  till  another  creek  is  reached, 
the  banks  of  which  are  steep,  and  this,  as  in  other 
cases,  make  its  crossing  a  matter  of  great  toil.  The 
trail  then  runs  over  a  high,  undulating  country,  pre 
senting  every  variety  of  scenery,  as  far  as  Black 
Paint  Creek,  near  which  are  two  Kansas  Indian  vil 
lages.  The  Kansas  are  a  friendly  tribe,  and  if  they 
were  not,  they  are  not  powerful  enough  to  attack  large 
parties  of  emigrants.  They  are  somewhat  disposed 
to  pilfer  whatever  they  can  conveniently,  and  require 
close  watching. 

After  crossing  the  creek,  the  trail  is  followed 
through  a  fertile  valley,  across  Hurricane  Creek,  which 
is  somewhat  difficult  of  passage,  and  then  over  an 
open  and  rolling  prairie,  broken  by  small  branches 
and  ravines.  Many  places,  convenient  for  encamping, 
are  to  be  found  on  the  route,  some  of  which  have 
springs  of  pure  cold  water.  Farther  on,  the  ground 
becomes  more  broken,  and  Vermilion  Creek,  a  large 
and  rapid  stream,  is  reached.  Its  banks  are  steep, 
and  its  fording  very  toilsome  and  difficult.  Between 
this  creek  and  the  Big  Blue,  there  is  neither  wood 
nor  water  to  be  obtained,  and  therefore,  it  is  cus 
tomary  for  the  emigrants  to  fill  their  casks  at  this 
place.  The  ground  between  the  two  streams,  a  dis 
tance  of  ten  miles,  is  more  broken  than  any  upon 
the  former  part'of  the  route,  and  on  arriving  at  the 
18 


206  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Big  Blue,  a  steep  descent  is  made  to  the  low,  bottom 
lands  near  the  river.  The  usual  width  of  the  Big 
Blue  is  about  a  hundred  yards,  at  which  time  alone 
it  is  fordable.  It  becomes  much  swollen  by  heavy- 
rains,  and  very,  rapid  in  its  current. 

Arising  from  the  bottom  of  the  Big  Blue  River,  the 
emigrants  are  again  upon  the  high  and  undulating 
prairie.  Every  variety  of  scenery  is  presented  to  the 
view,  and  springs  of  water,  issuing  from  the  cliffy 
banks  of  the  small  branches  and  ravines,  and  shaded 
by  groves  of  trees  offer  many  places  for  rest  and  re 
freshment.  Fourteen  miles  from  the  Big  Blue,  one 
of  its  tributaries,  exceedingly  difficult  to  cross  with 
large  wagons  and  teams,  is  met  with.  After  passing 
it,  the  trail  runs  over  a  smooth  inclined  plane  for  the 
distance  of  twelve  miles,  to  another  encamping  place 
for  emigrants,  upon  the  banks  of  a  small  creek. 
From  that  creek  there  is  a  gradual  ascent  for  the  dis 
tance  of  about  fourteen  miles,  and  then  a  beautiful 
valley,  through  which  flows  a  small  stream,  meets  the 
eye  of  the  wearied  emigrants,  and  offers  groves  of 
oak  to  serve  for  places  of  rest.  Then  there  is  another 
gradual  ascent,  through  a  country  which  is  more 
sandy  and  less  fertile  than  any  met  with  upon  the 
former  part  of  the  route,  for  more  than  twenty  miles. 
The  Little  Blue  is  then  reached,  and  the  train  con 
tinues  along  up  the  banks  of  the  stream  for  the  dis 
tance  of  about  fifty  miles ;  the  road  being  dry  and 
firm,  except  in  a  few  ravines.  The  trail  then  diverges 
from  the  stream  to  the  right,  ascending  over  the 
bluffs,  into  the  high  table  land  of  the  prairie,  and 
continues  to  ascend  gradually  until  the  bluffs  overlook 
ing  the  valley  of  the  Platte  River,  are  reached.  The 
soil  along  this  part  of  the  trail  is  sandy,  and  the  grass 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


20T 


rather  scarce ;  but  water  can  be  obtained  at  several 
places. 

The  Platte  River  is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  in  breadth  where  the  trail  reaches  it.  The 
current  is  sluggish  and  turbid,  and  the  water  is  very 
shallow.  The  trail  continues  along  the  banks  of  the 
river,  the  course  of  which  is  nearly  from  west  to  east, 
and  the  road  is  all  that  could  be  wished  for  travelling. 
The  bluffs  which  skirt  the  valley  present  considerable 
variety,  and  as  the  route  is  continued,  they  become 
more  elevated  and  broken.  The  soil  of  the  valley 
becomes  less  fertile  and  the  vegetation  is  thin  and 
short.  After  traversing  the  valley  of  the  Platte  for 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  the 
trail  crosses  the  river  and  continues  along  the  north 
ern  bank  of  the  south  fork  for  about  twelve  miles, 
when  it  diverges  from  the  stream  to  pass  over  the 
prairie  to  the  north  fork.  The  distance  from  the 
south  to  the  north  fork  of  the  Platte,  by  the  emigrant 
trail,  is  about  twenty-two  miles,  without  water.  The 
country  between  the  two  streams  is  high  and  rolling. 
The  soil  is  poor,  the  grass  short,  and  no  trees  or 
shrubs  are  visible.  The  trail  descends  into  the  valley 
of  the  north  fork  of  the  Platte,  through  a  pass  known 
as  Ash  Hollow.  There  is  but  one  steep  or  difficult 
place  for  wagons  in  the  pass,  and  in  the  valley  will  be 
found  a  spring  of  pure  cool  water.  At  this  place, 
there  is  a  sort  of  post  office,  where  letters  are  left  by 
emigrants,  with  requests  that  they  shall  be  taken  to 
the  States  by  those  who  pass  this  way. 

For  several  miles  from  Ash  Hollow  the  trail  passes 
over  a  sandy  soil,  which  is  very  soft,  but  which  after 
wards  becomes  firmer.  The  scenery  then  presents 
the  aspect  of  barrenness  and  desolation.  Sand  and 


208  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

rocks  are  all  that  meet  the  view  for  many  miles.  The 
landscape  then  assumes  a  greener  and  more  refresh 
ing  appearance,  and  groves  of  trees  relieve  the  emi 
grants  from  pursuing  their  way  any  farther  during 
the  day.  Farther  on,  the  well-known  landmark,  called 
the  "  Chimney  Rock,"  which  can  be  seen  at  a  great 
distance,  is  met  by  the  emigrants.  It  is  composed  of 
soft  rock,  and  is  several  hundred  feet  high.  The 
scenery  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  rock  is  very 
remarkable  and  picturesque.  There  are  a  number  of 
rocky  elevations  which  present  the  appearance  of 
vast  temples  and  pyramids,  with  domes  and  spires 
partially  in  ruins.  Over  a  sandy  soil,  the  trail  is 
pursued  for  about  twenty  miles,  the  surrounding 
scenery  being  of  the  most  sublime  and  singular  char 
acter.  Near  a  remarkable  rocky  conformation,  called 
u  Scott's  Bluff,"  the  trail  leaves  the  river,  and  runs 
over  a  smooth  valley  in  the  rear  of  the  bluff.  It 
there  ascends  to  the  top  of  the  dividing  ridge,  from 
which  the  Rocky  Mountains  can  be  seen.  Descending 
from  the  ridge,  it  passes  over  a  barren  country,  broken 
by  deep  chasms  and  ravines,  for  about  twelve  miles, 
when  Horse  Creek  is  reached.  From  that  creek,  the 
trail  is  followed  to  the  Platte  River,  where  a  place  for 
encampment  is  found,  though  the  grass  is  very  in 
different.  Continuing  for  several  miles  through  a 
barren  country,  the  trail  is  followed  to  "  Fort  Ber 
nard,"  a  small  building,  rudely  constructed  of  logs, 
used  as  a  trading-post.  Eight  miles  farther  on,  is 
Fort  Laramie,  or  Fort  John,  as  it  is  sometimes  called. 
This  fort  has  been  the  principal  trading-post  of  the 
American  Fur  Company.  It  is  situated  in  the  Lara 
mie  River,  near  its  junction  with  the  Platte,  and  is  six 
hundred  and  seventy-two  miles  from  Independence. 


HISTOKY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  209 

The  building  is  quadrangular,  and  is  constructed  of 
adobe,  or  sun-dried  bricks.  Its  walls  are  surmounted 
by  watch-towers  and  its  gate  is  defended  by  two 
brass  swivels. 

From  Fort  Laramie,  the  trail  continues  on  through 
a  broken  country,  to  the  Platte  River,  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles.  Crossing  a  small  creek  which  empties 
into  the  Platte,  it  proceeds  through  the  dry  bed  of 
one  of  its  branches,  over  a  deep  sand  for  six  or  eight 
miles,  and  reaches  the  summit  of  a  high  ridge.  From 
thence  it  descends  into  a  narrow  valley,  through 
which  flows  a  small  stream  of  pure  water.  Another 
ridge  of  hills  is  then  ascended,  and  a  wild,  desolate, 
but  picturesque  scene  is  presented  to  the  view.  Nu 
merous  lofty  mountain  peaks,  barren  rocks,  and  a  vast 
prospect  of  low  conical  hills  are  the  principal  features. 
Through  a  country,  the  principal  features  of  which 
are  of  this  description,  the  trail  is  followed,  and  the 
monotony  of  the  journey  is  only  relieved  by  an  occa 
sional  stoppage  at  a  refreshing  spring  of  water.  The 
trail  gradually  ascends  towards  the  summit  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  country  becomes  more 
broken  and  sterile,  till  it  reaches  Beaver  Creek,  a 
tributary  of  the  Platte.  There  the  grass  and  water 
are  good,  and  the  wood  is  abundant.  The  country 
exhibits  every  indication  of  fertility  upon  the  trail  lead 
ing  from  Beaver  Creek,  and  pure  and  limpid  streams 
are  frequent,  until  the  Platte  River  is  again  struck 
and  followed  upon  its  southern  bank,  for  the  distance 
of  about  eighteen  miles.  The  river  is  then  forded, 
and  the  trail  ascends  the  high  bluffs  overlooking  the 
valley,  and  proceeds  over  several  miles  of  table-land 
till  the  valley  of  the  Platte  is  again  reached.  At 
this  point,  the  trail  finally  leaves  the  Platte,  and, 
18* 


210  HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ascending  the  bluffs  on  the  right,  passes  over  an  arid 
plain  diversified  with  immense  piles  of  rocks,  deep 
ravines  and  chasms,  and  presenting  a  wide-spread 
sterility  and  desolation,  for  the  distance  of  forty 
miles.  Water  is  to  be  obtained  in  very  small  quanti 
ties  and  at  few  places  on  this  part  of  the  trail,  and, 
therefore  a  scarcity  should  be  provided  for  before 
leaving  the  Platte.  At  the  end  of  that  distance,  the 
trail  descends  into  a  small  valley,  where  spring  water 
can  be  obtained  and  some  refreshing  shade.  Ascend 
ing  from  this  valley,  the  trail  gradually  ascends  to 
the  summit  of  a  dividing  ridge,  from  which  a  view  of  the 
Sweetwater  River  Mountains  can  be  obtained.  De 
scending  from  the  ridge,  a  small  stream,  the  grassy 
banks  of  which  serve  for  an  encampment,  is  soon 
reached.  Farther  on  is  a  well-known  landmark  among 
the  mountains,  called  Independence  Hock.  It  is  an 
isolated  elevation,  composed  of  masses  of  rock,  about 
one  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  a  mile  in  circum 
ference,  standing  near  the  northern  bend  of  the  Sweet- 
water  River,  and  between  the  ranges  of  mountains 
which  border  the  valley  of  that  stream. 

The  trail  proceeds  up  the  Sweetwater  River,  and 
passes  a  remarkable  fissure  in  the  Rocky  Mountain 
wall,  which  is  called  the  Devil's  Gate.  The  fissure  is 
about  thirty  feet  in  breadth,  and  the  perpendicular 
walls  on  each  side  of  the  channel  of  the  stream  which 
flows  through  it,  are  nearly  three  hundred  feet  high. 
The  trail  leaves  the  river  about  twelve  miles  from 
where  it  first  strikes  it,  and  then  returns  to  it  after 
traversing  about  sixteen  miles.  It  again  diverges  from 
the  river  and  crosses  a  broken  and  arid  plain,  which 
presents  but  few  signs  of  vegetation.  Passing  through 
a  gap  between  two  ranges  of  granite  mountains,  the 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


211 


first  view  of  the  Wind  River  Mountains  is  obtained. 
The  trail  then  proceeds  through  a  narrow  valley 
several  miles  in  length,  the  surface  of  which  is  white 
with  an  alkaline  efflorescence,  and  then  returns  to  the 
Sweetwater  River.  Continuing  up  the  valley  of  the 
Sweetwater,  occasionally  leaving  the  bank  of  the 
stream  and  passing  over  the  rolling  and  barren  table 
lands,  it  crosses  two  small  creeks  which  present  good 
places  for  encampment.  Several  miles  farther  on,  the 
trail  crosses  the  Sweetwater  River,  and  then  leaves  it 
finally,  making  a  gradual  ascent  to  the  South  Pass  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  or  the  dividing  ridge  which 
separate  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific. 

After  the  summit  of  the  ridge  is  reached,  the  trail 
passes  two  or  three  miles  over  a  level  surface,  and 
then  descends  to  the  spring,  well  known  to  emigrants 
as  the  "Pacific  Spring."  The  water  from  this  spring 
is  emptied  into  the  Colorado  River  of  the  West,  which 
river  empties  into  the  Gulf  of  California.  This  Pacific 
Spring  is  two  miles  west  of  the  South  Pass,  and  nine 
hundred  and  eighty-three  miles  from  Independence, 
Missouri. 

From  the  Pacific  Spring,  the  trail  passes  over  an 
arid,  undulating  plain,  in  a  west-by-north  course,  for 
about  twenty-eight  miles,  when  the  "  Little  Sandy" 
River,  a  branch  of  the  Green  or  Colorado  River,  pre 
sents  itself,  and  furnishes  the  first  water  after  leaving 
Pacific  Spring.  From  the  Little  Sandy  River,  the 
trail  passes  over  a  plain  of  white  sand  or  clay,  and 
within  twelve  miles  reaches  the  Big  Sandy  River,  and 
passes  along  it  for  about  eighteen  miles,  and  then 
strikes  off  and  crosses  the  Green  River,  or  Colorado 
of  the  West.  This  river  is  shallow  and  only  about 
seventy  yards  broad.  The  trail  then  continues  down 


212  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  Green  River  a  short  distance,  and  then,  making  a 
right  angle,  ascends  the  bluffs  bordering  the  valley  of 
the  stream,  in  nearly  a  west  course.  The  country 
then  becomes  still  more  broken  and  barren,  and  the 
trail  ascends  gradually  to  the  summit  of  a  ridge,  from, 
which  it  descends  to  the  banks  of  the  Black  Fork,  a 
tributary  of  the  Green  River.  This  Black  Fork  is 
crossed  several  times  upon  the  route,  but  is  not  more 
than  sixty  yards  wide  and  is  very  shallow.  The  trail 
leaves  it  to  cut  off  the  bends  and  then  returns  to  it. 
The  scenery  along  this  part  of  the  route  is  interesting, 
but  the  soil  is  frightfully  sterile.  Diverging  from  the 
stream  the  trail  passes  over  a  barren  plain  with  no 
vegetation  upon  it  except  the  wild  sage,  so  common 
even  in  the  most  sterile  country,  and  then  passes 
through  a  bottom  of  grass,  offering  a  good  place  for 
an  encampment. 

Near  this  place  is  Fort  Bridgcr,  a  small  trading- 
post  established  by  a  Mr.  Bridger.  The  buildings 
are  two  or  three  rudely  constructed  log  cabins,  and 
they  are  situated  in  a  handsome  fertile  bottom,  on  the 
banks  of  a  small  stream.  This  fort  is  about  eleven  hun 
dred  miles  from  Independence,  Missouri.  From  i^ort 
Bridger,  many  parties  anxious  to  explore  the  country, 
take  the  route  by  way  of  the  south  end  of  the  great 
Salt  Lake.  But  the  scarcity  of  water  and  the  other 
difficulties  encountered  in  crossing  the  sterile  plains 
and  the  great  Salt  Desert  should  be  sufficient  to  deter 
emigrants  with  families  from  taking  that  direction. 
Oxen  could  not  travel  fast  enough  from  one  watering- 
place  to  another,  Jfnd  must  necessarily  perish  from 
thirst.  Besides,  the  route  is  but  poorly  denned,  and 
may  be  wandered  from  very  easily. 

The  trail  of  the  old  route,  and  the  one  taken  by 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


213 


most  of  the  emigrants,  leaves  Fort  Bridger,  and  pur 
sues  a  north-westerly  course,  through  the  Bear  River 
valley,  which  it  leaves  at  a  remarkable  landmark 
called  Sheep  Rock,  and  crossing  a  dividing  ridge 
reaches  Fort  Hall,  by  the  valley  of  the  Portneaf 
River.  This  fort  was  established  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  and  it  is  the  seat  of  a  considerable 
trade  in  furs  with  the  Indians  and  trappers.  From 
Fort  Hall  the  trail  continues  on  till  it  reaches  the 
valley  of  Mary's  River.  There  a  tolerably  fertile  soil 
and  refreshing  vegetation  greets  the  eye  of  the  travel- 
worn  emigrant.  The  trail  crosses  the  river  five  or  six 
times  in  as  many  miles,  in  order  to  take  advantage  of 
the  narrow  bottoms  made  by  the  windings  of  the 
stream.  The  bottom  is  skirted  bj"  very  high  ranges 
of  mountains  to  where  the  trail  leaves  it,  and  turning 
to  the  right  ascends  over  low,  gravelly  hills.  Descend 
ing  from  the  summit  of  a  ridge  of  hills,  it  passes 
through  a  valley  where  good  grass  and  water  can  be 
obtained — the  valley  containing  several  springs  of 
pure  cold  water.  Emerging  from  this  valley  through 
a  narrow  gap,  the  trail  passes  into  another  still  more 
extensive,  and  pursues  a  south-westerly  direction  for 
about  twenty  miles,  keeping  near  the  margin  of  Mary's 
River.  A  succession  of  low  hills  are  crossed,  and 
another  valley  is  reached.  During  the  journey  through 
these  valleys,  the  emigrants  are  exposed  to  the  fiery 
rays  of  the  sun,  and  the  hot  winds  from  the  desert 
are  very  oppressive.  The  trail  then  follows  the  course 
of  the  river  in  a  direction  nearly  north-west,  through 
valleys,  or  plains  of  great  extent,  and  mountainous 
defiles,  occasionally  following  a  bend  of  the  river 
towards  the  south-west.  The  greater  portion  of  these 
valleys  is  barren,  but  there  are  frequent  fertile  spots 


16 


214  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

near  the  boiling  springs.  The  only  Indians  met  on 
this  part  of  the  route  are  the  diggers,  and  they  do 
not  possess  the  power  to  do  much  harm,  if  they  even 
were  hostile;  but  they  are  friendly.  The  want  of 
water  is  the  principal  annoyance. 

Passing  over  the  desolate  valleys  and  hills  that 
border  Mary's  River,  the  trail  descends  into  a  large 
circular  basin,  in  which  a  place  for  encamping  is 
found,  but  with  little  water.  From  this  basin,  it 
crosses  some  considerable  elevations  and  then  a  totally 
barren  plain  ten  miles  wide.  Beyond  this,  water  and 
grass  of  tolerable  quality  are  soon  found ;  and  there, 
if  possible,  a  supply  should  be  obtained  sufficient  to 
last  for  a  long  day's  journey.  Rounding  the  base  of 
a  mountain,  the  trail  takes  a  south-west  course,  across 
a  totally  barren  plain.  No  sign  of  the  river,  or  the 
existence  of  any  water  is  exhibited.  Near  the  southern 
edge  of  the  plain,  which  is  twenty  miles  in  extent, 
some  pools  of  standing  water  are  found,  and  the  place 
is  known  as  the  "  Sink  of  Mary's  River."  From 
these  pools  to  the  Truckee,  or  Salmon  Trout  River, 
the  distance  is  forty-five  miles.  The  trail  is  followed 
over  the  hills  of  ashy  earth,  in  which  the  mules  often 
sink  to  their  bellies,  and  over  a  ground  destitute  of 
any  vegetation,  except  occasional  clumps  of  wild  sage. 
A  ridge  of  mountains  is  then  ascended  by  an  easy 
inclined  plain,  and  a  view  of  the  distant  range  of 
Sierra  Nevada  is  obtained  on  reaching  the  summit. 
The  intervening  valley  presents  as  barren  a  prospect 
as  the  country  immediately  preceding  it.  Descending 
into  it,  numerous  boiling  springs  are  found,  which 
often  serve  to  delude  the  thirsty  emigrants.  But  by 
damming  up  the  streams  which  flow  from  them,  the 
water  may  be  cooled,  and,  although  impregnated  with 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


215 


salt,  sulphur,  and  magnesia,  it  may  quench  the  thirst. 
The  phenomenon  of  mirage  is  frequently  presented  to 
the  view  of  the  emigrants,  and  it  very  often  assumes 
the  appearance  of  things  unknown  to  that  desert 
region,  such  as  lakes,  cascades,  and  foaming  and 
tumbling  waters.  About  twelve  miles  from  the 
springs,  a  ridge  of  sandy  hills,  running  across  the 
valley,  is  ascended,  and  then  an  elevated  plain  of 
about  ten  miles  in  extent  is  crossed  by  the  trail.  Over 
this  plain  the  travelling  is  very  laborious — the  sand 
being  very  deep.  But  at  length  the  Truckee  River  is 
reached,  and  water,  grass  and  trees,  larger  than  any 
upon  the  former  part  of  the  route  for  five  hundred 
miles  preceding,  greet  the  wearied  and  thirsty 
emigrant. 

The  Truckee  River  is  about  fifty  feet  in  breadth 
with  a  shallow  but  rapid  current  of  clear  water.  The 
bottom  land  is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  game  is  some 
times  to  be  obtained  in  its  neighborhood.  The  trail 
crosses  the  Truckee  very  frequently,  in  its  winding 
course,  but  the  country  being  agreeable,  this  is  not 
considered  toilsome  by  the  emigrant,  after  traversing 
the  barren  plains  in  the  vicinity  of  Mary's  River.  The 
course  of  the  Truckee  is  nearly  from  the  south-west  to 
the  north-east,  and  in  some  places  it  passes  between 
very  high  mountains,  affording  scarcely  room  for  tra 
vellers  to  pass.  Sometimes  the  trail  is  followed 
through  fertile  valleys  and  then  over  barren  hills  and 
rocky  passes  till  the  summit  of  a  gap  in  the  moun 
tains  is  reached,  and  a  pleasant  valley  opens  to  the 
view,  offering  a  fine  place  for  encampment.  The  trail 
then  turns  to  the  left,  and  proceeds  in  a  southerly 
direction,  crossing  the  Truckee  several  times,  until 
the  Truckee  Lake  breaks  upon^he  view.  This  small 


216  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

sheet  of  water  is  surrounded  by  lofty  mountains,  ex 
cept  upon  the  side  where  its  outlet  flows  from  it.  The 
trail  strikes  the  shore  of  the  lake  at  its  eastern  end, 
and  continues  around  its  north-eastern  side  over  a 
very  difficult,  boggy  road.  Having  reached  the  upper 
end  of  the  lakes,  the  trail  leaves  the  shore  on  the 
right  hand,  ascends  over  some  rocky  hills,  and,  cross 
ing  some  deep  ravines  and  swampy  ground,  arrives  at 
the  base  of  the  crest  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  Then 
comes  the  ascent  of  the  steep  pass — a  work  of  diffi 
culty  and  danger.  The  mules  are  compelled  to  leap 
from  crag  to  crag,  and,  when  heavily  laden,  are  often 
precipitated  backward  in  climbing  the  almost  perpen 
dicular  rocks. 

Having  attained  the  summit  of  the  pass,  the  view 
is  inexpressibly  grand  and  comprehensive.  A  mile 
journey  upon  the  top  of  the  mountain  brings  the  tra 
veller  to  a  small  lake,  surrounded  by  good  grass, 
which  is  often  used  as  a  place  of  encampment.  Leav 
ing  the  lake  on  the  right  hand,  the  trail  descends  over 
the  rocky  ground  for  a  few  miles,  and  then  enters  a 
beautiful  valley  about  five  miles  long.  Through  this 
valley,  which  is  called  the  Yuba  valley,  by  the  emi 
grants,  flows  the  Yuba  River,  a  tributary  of  the 
Feather  Elver,  and  the  scene  of  considerable  gold 
digging  and  washing.  This  is  the  commencement  of 
the  gold  region,  and  after  their  journey  through  the 
wilderness,  here  the  emigrants  greet  the  "promised 
land."  From  this  point  to  Sacramento  city,  the  great 
terminus  of  the  overland  emigration,  it  is  about  sixty 
miles ;  but  the  trading  post  of  Yuba,  Johnson's 
ranche,  Vernon,  and  the  other  posts,  offer  convenient 
intermediate  resting  places. 

We  have  thus  sketched  the  general  character  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


217 


principal  overland  route  to  California,  and  have  fol 
lowed  the  trail  of  the  emigrant  over  all  the  difficul 
ties  and  obstacles  which  present  themselves  upon  the 
route.  That  there  are  portions  of  the  journey  which 
are  productive  of  considerable  suffering,  and  which 
demand  stout  hearts  and  strong  constitutions  to  meet 
them,  is  not  to  be  doubted.  But  they -are  few  com 
pared  with  the  dangers  to  be  encountered  by  deviat 
ing  from  the  particular  trail  whose  course  we  have 
followed.  The  want  of  water  is  the  principal  source 
of  annoyance  towards  the  lake  part  of  the  route,  but 
this  occurs  in  few  places.  The  longest  distance  to  be 
travelled  without  finding  water,  is  about  forty-five 
miles — from  the  "  Sink"  of  Mary's  River  to  Truckee 
River,  and  this  may  be  prepared  for.  It  is  a  matter 
of  great  importance,  that  the  delay  upon  the  route 
should  be  as  little  as  possible.  Great  suffering  and 
many  deaths  have  been  caused  by  delaying  too  long 
at  different  camping  places.  It  should  be  made  an 
urgent  duty  to  get  over  as  much  ground  every  day  as 
possible,  and  to  keep  in  the  old  trail. 

The  overland  route  which  we  have  sketched,  and 
the  route  by  way  of  Chagres  and  Panama,  are  the  two 
routes  by  which  most  of  the  California  emigrations  had 
proceeded ;  but  there  are  others  projected,  and  some 
have  been  followed.  Many  persons  have  proceeded  to 
California  through  Mexico ;  but  the  difficulty  and 
delay  in  the  matter  of  passports,  and  the  opposition 
of  the ;  Mexicans  to  armed  parties  of  another  country 
passing  their  territory,  must  prove  weighty  objections 
to  any  such  route.  Another  has  been  projected,  and 
will  probably  be  opened.  It  is  a  route  across  the  ter 
ritory  of  Nicaragua,  in  Central  America.  This  will 
be  the  shortest  and  most  convenient  route  to  the  gold 
19 


218  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

region,  and  will  absorb  the  greater  portion  of  the 
travel  thither ;  but  the  overland  route  will  always  be 
taken  by  those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  a  coun 
try  life,  or  have  a  thirst  for  adventure.  It  presents 
the  greatest  variety  of  scenery — some  of  it  of  a  cha 
racter  not  to  be  seen  elsewhere ;  and  affords  oppor 
tunities  for  studying  nature  in  all  her  visible  forms ; 
and,  though  attended  with  toils  and  dangers,  which 
will  daunt  the  feeble,  it  possesses  the  strongest  at 
tractions  for  the  lovers  of  variety,  and  the  hardy  ad 
venturer  who  has  confidence  in  his  own  powers  of 
endurance. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

RECENT   EVENTS. 

BELIEVING  that  every  event  which  in  any  way 
affects  the  interests  or  welfare  of  California  is  im 
portant  to  those  who  have  watched  her  progress  and 
have  been  astonished  at  her  rapid  rise,  we  will  in  this 
and  a  subsequent  chapter,  bring  the  narrative  up  to 
the  time  of  issuing  this  work. 

The  city  of  San  Francisco,  in  the  midst  of  her 
progress  and  prosperity,  has  been  twice  visited  by  the 
destroying  element  of  fire.  The  first  calamity  of  this 
kind  occurred  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  Decem 
ber,  1849.  The  fire  consumed  all  that  portion  of  the 
city  on  and  near  the  plaza,  involving  a  loss,  at  Califor 
nia  prices,  of  over  a  million  of  dollars.  Fortunately, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


219 


it  was  the  rainy  season.  If  the  fire  had  occurred 
during  the  dry  season,  and  the  prevalence  of  the 
furious  gales,  the  whole  city,  composed,  as  it  was,  of 
canvas  tents  and  wooden  houses,  must  have  been 
destroyed.  The  event  did  not  materially  affect  the 
progress  of  the  city ;  for  the  burnt  district  was  entirely 
rebuilt  within  twenty  days. 

The  second  great  fire  occurred  on  the  night  of  the 
4th  of  May,  1850.  It  broke  out  in  the  United  States 
Hotel,  situated  on  the  plaza,  or  Portsmouth  Square — 
the  very  heart  of  the  city.  The  flames  soon  spread 
to  the  adjoining  buildings,  and  several  of  the  principal 
hotels  were  destroyed.  Nothing  could  stop  the  pro 
gress  of  the  fire  but  the  tearing  down  of  a  whole  block 
of  houses  on  one  of  the  streets  leading  from  the 
Square,  Five  entire  blocks  of  the  business  portion 
of  the  city  were  destroyed — involving  a  loss  of  about 
a  million  of  dollars.  To  show  the  amount  of  enter 
prise  and  energy  existing  in  San  Francisco,  no  better 
opportunity  is  afforded  than  to  look  at  the  state  of 
things  in  that  city,  ten  days  after  the  fire.  We  extract 
from  the  Alta  Californian  of  the  15th  of  May,  the 
following  remarks  : 

"TiiE  BURNED  DISTRICT. — Intimately  as  we  are 
acquainted  with  the  predominant  spirit  of  energy  and 
enterprise  of  our  city,  we  have  almost  wondered  at 
the  rapidity  with  which  the  burned  district  is  being 
again  built  up.  It  exceeds  the  speed  with  which  the 
work  was  accomplished  after  the  December  fire. 
Already,  in  Portsmouth  Square,  the  Bella  Union  and 
St.  Charles,  houses  of  public  resort,  are  opened  and 
hourly  thronged.  In  Washington  Street,  two  dry 
goods  stores,  'La  Amarilla'  and  Juan  Cima's,  are 
opened  and  stocked,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  way 


220  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

buildings  are  nearly  completed,  and  will  be  ready  for 
occupation  by  the  latter  end  of  this  week.  In  fact, 
the  ruins  are  more  than  half  covered  over,  and  except 
that  the  neAV  edifices  are  not  of  so  elegant  a  character 
or  so  substantially  built,  even,  as  previously,  they  will 
present  a  handsome  appearance. 

"  The  fact  of  the  business  season  having  now  fairly 
commenced,  and  the  necessity  of  being  alive  to  take 
advantage  of  it,  has  materially  accelerated  operations. 
The  present  busy  hum  created  by  the  industrious 
mechanic,  will  soon  give  way  to  the  usual  activity  and 
bustle  of  mercantile  trade,  and  ere  the  departure  of 
the  next  steamer  a  casual  observer  would  be  scarcely 
able  to  realize  the  devastation  of  the  4th  inst.  Not 
withstanding  the  immense  amount  of  property  de 
stroyed,  which  was  not  at  all  over-estimated,  business 
has  not  been  so  generally  depressed,  even  momenta 
rily,  as  it  was  feared  and  anticipated.  Our  community 
have  risen  again  to  the  surface  of  the  waters  with 
cork-like  buoyancy,  and  the  sad  and  gloomy  faces  of 
the  early  part  of  last  week  have  brightened  by  the 
prosperous  hopes  anticipated  in  the  future.  Never 
was  calamity  taken  with  more  fortitude  and  philosophy 
than  in  this  city.  And  if  to  win  success  is  but  to 
deserve,  then  those  who  have  suffered  will  meet  with 
their  just  reward.  Nil  desperandum  seems  to  be  the 
popular  motto,  amalgamated  with  the  David  Crocket 
principle,  enlarged  and  improved.  We  are  satisfied 
that  nothing  can  retard  or  check  the  prosperity,  rapid 
growth,  advancement  and  importance  of  this,  the  prin 
cipal  city  and  seaport  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Vive 
San  Francisco !" 

The  annexed  extract  from  the  Message  of  the  Mayor 
of  San  Francisco  gives  an  idea  of  the  quantity  of 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


221 


disease  and  destitution  in  that  city.  No  doubt  San 
Francisco  is  the  grand  receptacle  for  all  who  become 
diseased  in  any  way  at  the  mines  or  other  places  in 
the  interior ;  and  this  may  serve  to  account  for  the 
extraordinary  statements  contained  in  the  Message — 

"  During  the  last  nine  months,  an  expense  of  eighty 
thousand  dollars  has  been  incurred  for  the  support  of 
the  sick  and  destitute,  who  have  been  thrown  penniless 
upon  our  shores,  and  found  friendless  and  homeless  in 
our  streets,  and  for  the  burial  of  those  who  have  died 
without  sufficient  means  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
interment.  If  these  enormous  expenditures  are  con 
tinued,  (and  it  is  evident  from  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
population,  that  they  must  seriously  increase,  unless 
some  new  system  is  adopted,)  it  will  readily  be  per 
ceived  that  a  very  large  portion  of  the  revenue  of  the 
city  will  be  absorbed  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the 
hospital  department  alone.  Something  therefore  must 
speedily  be  done  to  remedy  this  great  drain  upon  the 
public  purse." 

As  an  indication  of  the  vast  increase  of  the  com 
merce  of  San  Francisco,  it  is  stated  that,  in  six  days 
in  the  month  of  May,  1850,  there  arrived  at  that  port 
seventy-six  vessels,  freighted  with  cargoes  to  find  a 
market  there.  Several  large  steamboats  have  been 
put  upon  the  Sacramento  and  the  Bay  of  San  Fran 
cisco,  and  they  are  reaping  extraordinary  profits.  The 
trip  from  San  Francisco  to  Sacramento  City  was,  a  few 
years  ago,  a  work  of  some  days,  but  it  is  now  per 
formed  in  less  than  nine  hours. 

The  reports  from  the  mines  continue  to  be  of  the 
most  favorable  character.  Gold  has  been  discovered 
upon  Trinity  River,  about  two  hundred  miles  north  of 
Sacramento  City,  and  the  digging  has  proved  to  be 


222  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

equal  to  that  of  any  of  the  other  placers.  The  mouth 
of  the  river,  which  empties  into  Trinity  Bay,  has  been 
surveyed,  and,  being  considered  a  very  good  harbor, 
a  town  has  been  projected,  to  be  situated  upon  the 
shore  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Rich  diggings  have 
been  opened  near  Mariposa,  and  on  one  occasion,  a 
mass  of  gold  and  quartz,  weighing  fifty  pounds,  was 
taken  from  them,  and  sold  for  sixteen  hundred  dollars. 
Several  important  discoveries  have  been  made  on  the 
Mokulumne  River.  Out  of  one  hole,  three  men,  in  two 
days,  took  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars.  It  is 
thought  that  more  bullion  will  be  obtained  during  the 
dry  season  of  the  present  year,  1850,  than  has  been 
received  since  the  commencement  of  the  gold-digging. 
This  seems  to  falsify  the  predictions  of  some  persons, 
that  the  gold  region  would  be  speedily  exhausted. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  some  bloody  trans 
actions  upon  the  North  Fork  of  the  American  River. 
We  extract  it  from  the  Pacific  News  of  May  15th, 
1850:— 

"  About  two  weeks  ago,  a  party  of  Indians  came 
stealthily  upon  a  few  miners  who  were  sleeping  after 
their  work  was  over  in  their  tents  on  the  North  Fork, 
some  twenty  miles  above  Auburn.  Before  the  Indians 
gave  any  warning  to  the  whites  of  their  presence,  they 
killed  two,  wounded  another,  and  then  succeeded  in 
making  their  escape.  -On  Friday  of  last  week,  a 
trader,  who  was  travelling  with  his  team,  was  sur 
rounded  by  Indians  when  about  fifteen  miles  above 
Auburn.  The  arrows  from  their  bows  took  effect  up 
on  his  person,  and  he  only  saved  his  life  by  a  preci 
pitous  flight.  They  carried  off  his  coat  which  he  left 
in  his  wagon,  with  $600  worth  of  gold  dust  in  the 
pocket.  They  also  robbed  his  wagon  of  several  valu- 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


223 


able  articles.  Upon  receiving  news  of  this  attack  at 
Auburn,  a  number  of  men  set  out  on  horseback,  in 
pursuit  of  the  Indians.  They  overtook  them  in  a 
valley  not  far  -from  Auburn,  and  found  a  large  party 
of  them  drawn  up  to  meet  them.  The  Indians  were 
armed  with  bows  and  arrows  and  had  one  gun.  The 
whites  attacked  them,  and  soon  put  them  to  flight. 
The  Indians  left  a  considerable  number  of  dead  be 
hind  them,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  carried  off 
many  more.  Two  of  the  whites  were  wounded  with 
the  arrows  of  the  Indians,  but  not  fatally. 

"It  is  believed  by  many  of  the  miners  that  there 
are  white  men  among  the  Indians,  inciting  them  to 
hostilities.  It  is  pretty  certain  that  a  German  doctor 
has  been  leading  them  on  in  their  attacks.  A  meet 
ing  was  held  at  Auburn,  last  Monday  evening,  to 
raise  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the  purpose  of 
scouring  the  country,  and  making  war  upon  the  Indians 
wherever  found,  so  long  as  they  maintain  a  hostile 
position,  and  a  number  of  men  were  enrolled." 

A  portion  of  the  Indians  of  the  eastern  part  of 
California  have  always  manifested  their  hostility  to 
the  whites,  and  have  taken  numerous  occasions  to 
wreak  their  vengeance  upon  those  whom  they  consider 
the  invaders  of  their  country.  But  the  pursuit  of 
such  a  course  will  only  hasten  their  own  destruction. 
They  are  in  no  condition  to  contend  with  the  whites, 
and  their  proper  course  would  be  to  conciliate  those 
whom  they  cannot  resist.  The  following  account  of 
an  exterminating  expedition  against  the  Indians  is 
from  the  Alta  Californian  of  the  first  of  June.  To 
our  thinking,  the  punishment  far  exceeded  the  offence, 
and  the  officer  who  gave  the  order  for  extermination, 
is  culpable  in  a  high  degree. 


224  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

"  We  have  received  particulars  of  the  recent  slaugh 
ter  of  a  large  body  of  Clear  Lake  Indians  by  an  expe 
dition  sent  out  against  them  from  the  United  States 
garrisons  at  Sonoma  and  Benecia.  The  tribe  that 
incurred  this  terrible  punishment,  comprises  the  natives 
of  Sonoma  and  Napa  valleys,  and  has  maintained,  in 
general  undisturbed  peaceful  relations  with  the  white 
settlers  of  that  section  of  California.  Last  summer, 
however,  a  stubborn  family  Indian  offered  an  indignity 
to  the  wife  of  one  Kelsey,  who  had  resided  in  the 
country  some  nine  years,  for  which  he  was  taken  be 
fore  a  magistrate  and  sentenced  to  receive  one  hundred 
lashes.  After  this  punishment,  on  the  same  day,  we 
are  informed  Kelsey,  sought  the  wretched  offender, 
and  laid  him  dead  at  his  feet,  shooting  him  in  the 
presence  of  several  gentlemen,  who  remonstrated  with 
him  on  the  barbarity  of  the  deed.  This  man  Kelsey 
was  afterwards  murdered,  as  was  also  a  brother-in- 
law,  by  the  Indians  of  the  neighborhood.  Since  then 
repeated  acts  of  violence  have  been  visited  upon  the 
natives,  and  our  readers  will  remember  the  accounts 
which  we  published  a  few  months  since,  of  outrages 
committed  in  Sonoma  and  Napa,  by  a  party  of  despe 
rate  white  men.  The  Indians  were  driven  to  the 
mountains,  and  subsequently  made  depredatory  incur 
sions  upon  their  old  masters,  driving  away  cattle,  and 
indulging  their  natural  propensity  to  steal.  Com 
plaints  were  made, — doubtless  the  accounts  of  their 
conduct  highly  colored, — to  the  garrisons  of  Benecia 
and  Sonoma,  and  on  the  1st  of  the  month  an  expedi 
tion  was  fitted  out  against  them,  composed  of  a  detach 
ment  of  infantry,  and  a  company  of  dragoons,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Davidson,  (seventy-five  in  all,) 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


225 


with  orders  to  proceed  against  the  Clear  Lake  Indians, 
and  exterminate,  if  possible,  the  tribe. 

"  The  troops  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake, 
and  came  unexpectedly  upon  a  body  of  Indians  num 
bering  between  two  and  three  hundred.  They  imme 
diately  surrounded  them,  and  as  the  Indians  raised  a 
shout  of  defiance  and  attempted  escape,  poured  in  a 
destructive  fire  indiscriminately  upon  men,  women,  and 
children.  'They  fell,'  says  our  informant,  '  as  grass 
before  the  sweep  of  the  scythe.'  Little  or  no  resist 
ance  was  encountered,  and  the  work  of  butchery  was 
of  short  duration.  The  shrieks  of  the  slaughtered 
victims  died  away,  the  roar  of  muskets  then  ceased, 
and  stretched  lifeless  upon  the  sod  of  their  native 
valley  were  the  bleeding  bodies  of  these  Indians — 
nor  sex,  nor  age  was  spared;  it  was  the  order 
of  extermination  fearfully  obeyed.  The  troops  re 
turned  to  the  stations,  and  quiet  is  for  the  present 
restored." 

Here  is  the  account  of  more  Indian  troubles. 

"  FIGHT  WITH  THE  SACRAMENTO  INDIANS. — TREA 
TY. — In  consequence  of  depredations  of  the  Indians  of 
the  Sacramento  valley  and  outrages  committed  by  them, 
General  Thomas  J.  Green,  1st  Division,  State  Militia, 
ordered  out  two  companies  of  Mounted  Volunteers, 
under  command  of  Captain  Allgiers  and  Captain 
Charles  Hoyt,  and  marched  from  Oro,  on  the  17th  of 
May,  in  the  direction  of  Deer  Creek.  On  the  same 
day  Lieutenant  Bell,  of  Captain  A.'s  company,  with 
ten  men,  encountered  a  large  number  of  Indians, 
killed  five,  and  took  six  prisoners. 

"  On  the  18th  the  command  scoured  the  country  in 
the  region  of  Deer  Creek  and  Bear  River.  On  the 
19th,  the  trail  to  Colonel  Holt's  mill,  where  he  was 


226  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

murdered,  was  taken,  the  villages  found  to  be  deserted, 
and  the  white  settlement  abandoned. 

"  On  the  20th,  the  Indians,  two  or  three  hundred 
stron^1,  were  discovered  within  two  miles  of  Bear 

o' 

River,  upon  an  elevated  conical  hill.  An  engagement 
took  place,  in  which  eleven  Indians  were  killed  and  a 
number  wounded.  About  fifty  of  the  state  volunteers 
were  engaged.  None  were  killed,  but  Captain  Hoyt, 
Lieutenant  Lewis,  and  Mr.  Russell  were  wounded. 
Major  Frederick  Emory  (brother  of  Major  Emory, 
United  States  Topographical  Engineers  of  the  bound 
ary  Commission,)  was  accidentally  shot  through  the 
thigh  with  a  rifle  ball.  He  was  aid-de-camp  to  General 
T.  J.  Green. 

"  On  the  25th,  the  Indian  Chiefs  Weimer,  Buckler, 
and  Pooliel,  came  in,  by  permission,  and  entered  into 
a  treaty  of  peace  between  the  three  tribes,  severally 
represented,  and  the  State  of  California  and  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States.  The  treaty  is  sensible 
and  comprehensive." 

In  the  following,  among  other  interesting  intelli 
gence,  will  be  found  an  account  of  that  which  was 
expected  long  before  it  occurred — the  resistance  of 
some  of  the  numerous  body  of  foreign  gold-seekers 
to  the  tax  imposed  upon  them.  The  license  tax  is 
certainly  a  just  one ;  but  the  foreigners  presumed 
upon  their  number  and  strength,  that  they  had  power 
sufficient  to  resist  its  imposition.  The  easy  exci 
tability  of  the  Americans,  upon  any  subject  connected 
with  their  own  soil  is  well  known ;  and  it  is  exceeding 
ly  strange  that  a  serious  collision  did  not  take  place. 
We  extract  from  the  Alta  Californian,  of  June  1st, 
1850. 

The  Alta  Californian  has  letters  from  Stockton  to 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


227 


May  22d.  On  the  Tuolumne,  but  little  gold  digging 
has  been  effected  since  last  fall  along  the  banks.  The 
gold  is  under  water,  and  preparations  were  making 
by  companies  to  dam  the  streams  to  get  at  it.  This 
work  has  been  actively  going  on  for  five  or  six  months. 
There  is  want  of  men  at  this  kind  of  work,  and  eight 
or  ten  dollars  a  day  is  readily  obtained.  The  dig 
gings  at  Jamestown,  Sonora,  &c.,  have  been  partially 
deserted  on  account  of  new  diggings  discovered  at  Co 
lumbia,  three  miles  from  Sonora,  at  the  last  accounts 
some  two  thousand  persons  had  collected  there,  and 
town  lots  were  selling  at  high  prices. 

Sonora  is  growing  very  rapidly,  being  in  the  centre 
of  an  extensive  mining  region.  It  is  likely  to  be  next 
to  Stockton  in  size  and  importance.  Discoveries  of 
rich  placers  have  been  made  in  its  vicinity  lately ; 
some  of  the  richest  holes  at  Columbia  are  thirty,  forty, 
and  fifty  feet  deep.  A  serious  difiiculty  has  broken 
out  at  Sonora.  A  number  of  foreigners  refused  to 
comply  with  the  law  taxing  them  for  the  privilege  of 
working  the  mines.  A  time  was  fixed  by  the  collector 
to  summon  a  posse  of  American  citizens  to  prevent 
them  from  working.  The  day  previous  to  the  time 
fixed,  the  foreigners  paraded  with  guns,  &c.,  and  rein 
forcements  of  Americans  were  sent  for  from  the 
neighboring  towns.  A  letter  from  Stockton,  dated 
May  22d,  adds : 

"  In  the  evening,  the  sheriff,  Mr.  Work,  was  ac 
costed  by  a  Mexican,  who  asked  him  if  he  was  not  an 
officer,  or  the  officer  who  intended  to  enforce  the  pay 
ment  of  the  license.  On  replying  that  he  was,  the 
Mexican  made  an  attempt  to  stab  him,  when  a  person 
standing  by,  named  Clark,  with  a  single  stroke  of  a 
bowie  knife,  nearly  severed  his  head  from  his  body. 


228  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Thirty  armed  Americans  soon  arrived  from  Mormon 
Gulch,  and  the  whole  American  population  were  on 
the  alert  all  night. 

"  At  last  accounts  there  were  two  or  three  hundred 
Americans  at  Sonora,  under  arms,  and  others  were 
hourly  arriving.  On  Monday  the  excitement  had 
somewhat  abated.  Hundreds  of  the  Mexicans  and 
Chileans  were  packing  up  and  leaving  for  Stockton. 
Many  of  them  disclaimed  having  had  any  intention 
of  resorting  to  arms,  and  all  were  evidently  more  or 
less  frightened  at  the  aspect  of  affairs.  It  appears 
that  the  Mexicans  who  took  part  in  the  disturbance, 
were  led  on  by  some  hot-headed  Frenchman,  lately 
arrived  from  France,  of  the  Red  Republican  order. 
They  found,  however,  that  the  majority  of  the  Span 
iards  were  not  disposed  to  join  them,  and  it  is  sup 
posed  that  the  whole  affair  will  blow  over  without  any 
very  serious  consequences.  The  affair  will  probably 
be  a  severe  blow  to  business,  for  the  present,  in  So- 
nora." 

The  Stockton  Times  has  a  letter  from  Sonora,  giv 
ing  the  details  of  this  difficulty.  The  foreigners  said 
they  were  willing  to  pay  four  or  five  dollars  per  month, 
but  that  the  amount  demanded  was  utterly  beyond 
their  power  to  pay.  They  made  this  statement  at  an 
interview  with  the  Governor.  The  letter  goes  on  as 
follows : 

"During  the  discussion,  an  American  who  wished 
to  get  out  of  the  crowd,  began  elbowing  his  way  from 
the  place  where  he  stood,  when  a  Mexican  or  Chilian, 
in  front  of  him,  drew  a  pistol.  In  a  moment  a  dozen 
revolvers  were  out,  and  a  precipitate  retreat  was  made 
by  the  foreigners.  No  shot  was  fired,  but  the  Mexi- 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


229 


cans  were  alarmed,  and  the  town  was  cleared  in  five 
minutes.  Our  peace  now  seemed  threatened  by  about 
five  thousand  men  outside,  and  no  inconsiderable 
alarm  was  created  in  town.  The  citizens  armed  them 
selves,  and  expresses  were  sent  to  Mormon  Creek  and 
Sullivan's  Diggings,  from  which  places  about  five 
hundred  well  armed  Americans  arrived,  and  marched 
through  the  streets  with  guns  and  rifles  on  their 
shoulders.  The  demonstration  was  sufficient ;  the 
crowds  in  the  vicinity  soon  dispersed,  and  quiet  was 
restored.  The  only  thing  to  be  feared,  is  the  mis 
guided  zeal  of  our  own  citizens,  who  although  gene 
rally  sympathizing  with  the  discontent  occasioned  by 
the  unjust  tax,  are  incensed  that  the  foreigners  should 
presume  to  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and 
may  not  be  willing  to  allow  the  affair  to  rest  where 
it  is. 

A  serious  affray  took  place  this  afternoon,  in  which 
a  Mexican  was  seriously  wounded.  •  A  man  was 
noticed  parading  the  streets  with  two  or  three  pistols 
and  a  knife  in  his  belt ;  the  man  was  intoxicated,  and 
the  sheriff  arrested  him,  or  rather  took  his  arms  from 
him.  While  in  the  act,  a  Mexican  came  up  behind 
and  made  a  stab  at  the  officer  with  a  large  knife.  The 
murderous  intent  was  frustrated  by  a  bystander,  who, 
with  a  bowie  knife,  struck  the  man,  wounding  him 
severely.  Mr.  Work,  the  sheriff,  was  happily  un 
touched. 

This  state  of  affairs,  if  allowed  to  last,  will  ruin 
the  prosperity  of  the  whole  southern  mines,  and  your 
own  town  of  Stockton  will  be  the  first  to  suffer 
thereby. 

Monday,  May  20. — A  guard  was  kept  up  all  last 
20 


17 


230  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

night,  but  every  thing  was  quiet,  and  as  I  said  yester 
day,  I  believe  the  danger,  if  any  was  to  be  appre 
hended,  had  passed  away.  But  the  excitable  feelings 
of  the  hundreds  of  Americans  now  under  arms  had  to 
be  indulged,  and  hearing  that  a  camp,  mostly  com 
posed  of  foreigners,  situated  about  seven  miles  from 
Sonora,  had  mounted  Mexican,  Chilian,  and  French 
flags,  (what  truth  there  is  in  the  report,  I  know  not,) 
they  have  started  out  this  morning  to  avenge  the  in 
sult,  and  chastise  the  temerity  of  the  "  greasers"  and 
"outsiders."  I  sincerely  trust  there  will  be  good 
sense  enough  in  the  party  to  refrain  from  wanton  ag 
gression. 

Gov.  Burnett  has  sent  Hon.  John  Bidwell  and  Judge 
H.  A.  Schoolcraft  in  charge  of  the  block  of  stone  con 
tributed  by  California  to  the  Washington  Monument. 
It  is  thus  described : 

"  This  block  of  gold-bearing  quartz,  is  from  the 
Mariposa  diggings,  near  Fremont's  mines,  and  weighs 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds.  In  shape 
it  is  irregular,  approaching  a  square,  its  sides  varying 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  inches  in  length.  It  averages 
in  thickness  nine  inches — across  its  face  diagonally  it 
is  twenty-one  inches  by  measurement.  Very  little 
gold  is  perceptible  to  the  naked  eye,  but  it  is  estimated 
to  contain  about  eighty  dollars  worth." 

Since  the  above  events  were  recorded,  another  most 
disastrous  fire  has  occurred  in  the  city  of  San  Fran 
cisco.  It  broke  out  in  the  Sacramento  House,  situated 
in  the  wealthiest  portion  of  the  city,  on  the  17th  of 
June,  1850,  at  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  in  the  short 
space  of  three  hours,  about  two-thirds  of  the  wealthiest 
district  was  consumed.  The  shipping  in  the  harbor 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


231 


was  only  saved  by  the  greatest  exertion.  The  entire 
loss  is  estimated  at  from  three  to  four  millions  of 
dollars.  This  event  occurring  so  soon  after  the  pre 
vious  fire,  has  had  a  depressing  and  gloomy  effect  upon 
the  business  operations,  not  only  of  San  Francisco, 
but  of  Sacramento  City  also.  Many  of  the  heaviest 
trading  houses  have  been  entirely  ruined  ;  and  others 
brought  to  the  verge  of  it.  Several  individuals,  includ 
ing  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  distinguished  themselves 
by  their  noble  and  generous  exertions  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  fire  and  save  property. 

The  emigration  to  California  by  way  of  the  over 
land  route  is  six  times  as  great  during  the  present 
year  as  it  was  in  1849.  The  last  company  left  Coun 
cil  Bluffs,  on  the  15th  of  June.  They  brought  up  the 
rear  of  near  four  thousand  wagons,  ten  or  twelve 
thousand  persons,  and  about  twenty  thousand  head  of 
horses  and  cattle.  The  continued  success  of  the  gold- 
diggers  and  the  extraordinary  prospect  in  regard  to 
the  quantity  that  will  be  obtained  during  the  mining 
season  of  1850,  serves  to  keep  up  the  excitement  and 
to  allure  the  emigrant  to  the  golden  land. 

There  is  a  prospect  that  the  seat  of  government  of 
California  will  be  removed  from  San  Jose'  to  the  pro 
posed  new  city  of  Vallejo,  about  twenty  miles  above 
San  Francisco,  near  the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  and  at 
the  junction  of  the  Napa  and  San  Pablo  Bays. 
The  new  city  has  already  been  surveyed,  and  a 
company  of  influential  capitalists  organized,  with  the 
determination  to  "go  ahead,"  whether  the  capital  is 
or  is  not  established  at  this  point.  The  site  no  doubt 
presents  many  advantages  for  a  large  commercial  city, 
not  possessed  by  San  Francisco.  The  distance  from 


232  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

the  "Golden  Gates,"  (as  the  entrance  from  the  Pacific 
to  the  succession  of  bays  connected  with  the  harbor 
of  San  Francisco  is  termed)  is  about  the  same  as  San 
Francisco.  The  harbor  is  one  of  the  safest  and  most 
commodious  in  the  world,  and  the  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  general  government  to  make  surveys 
and  decide  upon  the  best  location,  have  to  recommend 
Mare's  Island,  half  a  mile  from  Vallejo,  as  the  naval 
depot  of  the  United  States  in  California.  The  climate 
of  Vallejo  is  delightful,  and  the  place  is  never  sub 
jected  to  those  strong  and  cold  northerly  winds  which 
render  San  Francisco  so  disagreeable  as  a  residence 
and  so  dangerous  as  a  commercial  city.  There  is 
plenty  of  marble  for  building  purposes  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Vallejo,  and  plenty  of  limestone  at  a  con 
venient  distance,  and  easily  obtainable.  The  new 
city  will  command  a  most  beautiful  view  of  San  Pablo 
Bay  and  of  the  country  adjacent,  and  the  Napa  valley 
(through  which  the  Napa  River  flows,  and  near  the 
mouth  of  which  the  city  is  located,)  and  the  Sonoma 
valley  in  the  vicinity  are  among  the  most  fertile  in 
California.  Near  Vallejo  are  also  mineral  springs, 
possessing  similar  properties,  and  said  to  equal  the 
celebrated  Congress  Springs  at  Saratoga. 


HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


283 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


THE  MINERALOGICAL  AND  OTHER  CHARACTERISTICS  OF 
GOLD,  AND  THE  MODE  OF  DISTINGUISHING  IT  WHEN 
FOUND;  TOGETHER  WITH  THE  ASSAY,  REDUCTION, 
AND  REFINEMENT  OF  GOLD. 

FOR  the  purpose  of  presenting  all  that  is  connected 
with  that  precious  metal,  that  has  built  up  a  state 
within  a  few  years,  and  of  making  the  reader  fully 
acquainted  with  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  gold- 
seeker  to  know,  we  will  now  describe,  in  some  detail, 
the  natural  history,  character  of  gold,  and  the  mode 
of  determining  its  presence  and  value. 

Gold  invariably  exhibits  something  of  the  peculiar 
yellow  color  which  it  is  known  to  possess  in  a  pure 
state ;  but  this  color  is  modified  by  various  metals 
with  which  it  may  be  mixed.  Thus  it  may  be  described 
as  having  various  shades  of  gold-yellow ;  occasionally 
approaching  silver- white,  occasionally  resembling 
brass-yellow  of  every  degree  of  intensity,  and  even 
verging  on  steel-gray  in  some  specimens  from  South 
America. 

The  lustre  of  gold  is  highly  metallic  and  shining, 
and  owing  to  the  small  amount  of  oxidation  at  its  sur 
face,  it  preserves  its  shining  lustre  even  after  long 
exposure  in  contact  with  other  substances.  Thus  the 
shining  particles  are  often  seen  in  sand  when  the 
quantity  is  barely  sufficient  to  repay  the  cost  of  work 
ing,  notwithstanding  the  value  of  the  metal.  Even 
20* 


234  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

however,  if  the  surface  is  dull,  the  true  color  and  appear 
ance  are  easily  restored  by  rubbing,  and  when  polished 
it  takes  a  very  vivid  lustre,  which  is  preserved  for  a 
long  time  in  the  atmosphere. 

Although  in  the  division  which  has  been  intro 
duced  into  gold-yellow,  brass-yellow,  and  grayish- 
yellow,  native  gold  seems  with  some  slight  modifica 
tions  to  agree  with  the  geological  relations  of  its 
varieties,  yet  this  mode  of  arrangement  deserves  little 
serious  notice.  The  gold-yellow  varieties  comprise 
the  specimens  of  the  highest  gold-yellow  colors,  though 
there  are  some  among  them  which  have  rather  a  pale 
color ;  they  include  most  of  the  crystals  and  of  the 
imitative  shapes,  in  fact  the  greater  part  of  the  species 
itself.  The  brass-yellow  native  gold  is  confined  to 
some  of  the  regular  and  imitative  shapes  of  a  pale 
color  (which  is  generally  called  brass-yellow,)  and,  as 
it  is  said,  of  a  less  specific  gravity  than  the  preceding 
one ;  but  this  does  not  seem  to  have  ever  been  ascer 
tained  by  direct  experiment.  The  grayish-yellow 
native  gold  occurs  only  in  those  small  flat  grains  which 
are  mixed  with  the  native  platina,  and  possess  a  yellow 
color  a  little  inclining  to  gray ;  they  are  said  to  have 
the  greatest  specific  gravity  of  them  all.  The  real 
foundation  of  this  distribution  seems  to  be  the  opinion 
that  the  first  are  the  purest,  the  second  mixed  with  a 
little  silver,  and  the  third  with  platina.  It  is  not 
known  whether  the  latter  admixture  really  takes  place, 
but  it  is  certain  that  several  varieties  of  gold-yellow 
native  gold  contain  an  admixture  of  silver.* 

In  color  and  lustre,  inexperienced  persons  might 
mistake  various  substances  for  gold ;  these  are  chiefly 

*  Mobs'  Mineralogy,  by  Haidinger,  vol.  ii.  p.  438. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


235 


Iron  and  copper  pyrites,  but  from  them  it  may  be 
readily  distinguished,  being  softer  than  steel  and  very 
malleable  ;  whereas  iron  pyrites  is  harder  than  steel, 
and  copper  pyrites  is  not  malleable  ;  for  although  the 
latter  mineral  yields  easily  to  the  point  of  a  knife,  it 
crumbles  when  we  attempt  to  cut  or  hammer  it,  whereas 
gold  may  be  separated  in  thin  slices,  or  beaten  out 
into  thin  plates  by  the  hammer.  There  can  thus  be 
no  possible  difficulty  in  distinguishing  these  various 
minerals  in  a  native  state,  even  with  nothing  but  an 
ordinary  steel  knife.  From  any  other  minerals,  as 
mica,  whose  presence  has  also  misled  some  persons, 
gold  is  easily  known  by  very  simple  experiments  with 
a  pair  of  scales,  or  even  by  careful  washing  with  water, 
for  gold  being  much  heavier  than  any  other  substance 
found  with  it  (except  platina  and  one  or  two  extremely 
rare  metals,)  will  always  fall  first  to  the  bottom,  if 
shaken  in  water  with  mud,  while  mica  will  generally 
be  the  last  material  to  fall.  This  is  the  case, 
however  fine  or  few  the  particles  of  either  mineral 
may  be. 

Gold  therefore  can  be  distinguished  by  its  relative 
weight  or  specific  gravity,  and  by  its  relative  hardness, 
from  other  bodies  which  resemble  it.  .  It  is  described 
generally  as  soft,  completely  malleable  and  flexible, 
but  more  accurately  as  softer  than  iron,  copper  or 
silver,  but  harder  than  tin  or  lead.  It  is  useful  to 
know  facts  of  this  kind,  as  a  simple  experiment  that 
can  be  made  with  instruments  at  hand,  is  often  more 
valuable  than  a  much  more  accurate  examination 
requiring  materials  not  immediately  available.  Thus 
if  it  is  found  that  a  specimen  (perhaps  a  small  scale  or 
spangle)  is  readily  scratched  by  silver,  copper  or  iron, 
and  scratches  tin  and  lead,  it  may,  if  of  the  right 


236  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

color  and  sinking  rapidly  in  water,  be  fairly  assumed 
to  be  gold. 

The  weight  of  gold,"  as  of  all  substances,  it  is  con 
venient  to  estimate  relatively,  and  in  comparison  with 
the  weight  of  an  equal  volume  of  water.  The  relative 
weight,  or  specific  gravity,  as  it  is  called,  of  gold,  is 
remarkably  high,  the  lightest  varieties  being  twelve 
times  heavier  than  water,  and  pure  gold  nineteen 
times.  This  is  expressed  by  saying  that  the  specific 
gravity  of  native  gold  is  12 — 19,  and  the  number 
determined  by  comparing  the  weight  of  the  mineral  in 
water  and  air. 

As  the  value  of  gold  depends  almost  entirely  on  its 
specific  gravity,  and  this  test,  therefore,  is  of  the 
greatest  practical  importance,  it  will  not  be  out  of 
place  if  we  here  explain  some  very  simple  apparatus 
for  the  determination  of  this  point. 

If  the  specimen  then  is  large  enough  to  be  sus 
pended  conveniently  by  a  thread,  weigh  it  first  in  air 
by  a  fine  balance,  expressing  the  result  in  grains,  and 
taking  care  previously  to  remove  dust  or  loosely  adher 
ing  particles.  Then  suspend  it  by  a  horsehair  from 
the  scale-pan  (it  is  convenient  to  have  a  hook  attached 
to  it  for  this  purpose,)  and  thus  suspended,  immerse 
it  and  re-weigh  it  in  water,  taking  care  that  it  is 
covered  on  all  sides  by  at  least  half  an  inch  of  water, 
and  carefully  brushing  off  with  a  feather  any  bubbles 
of  air  that  adhere  to  the  surface.  The  results  may 
then  be  noted  as  follows : — 

Weight  of  substanco  in  the  air  in  grains    .     .     .     . 

Deduct  weight  of  ditto  in  water 

Differ  en  ce     . 


This  result  gives   the  weight  of  a  bulk  of  water 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


237 


equal  to  that  of  the  specimen,  and  by  dividing  the 
weight  of  the  specimen  in  air  by  this  number,  the 
specific  gravity  is  obtained. 

weight  of  substance  in  air 
Specific  gravity— 


weight  of  equal  bulk  of  water 

If,  however,  the  substance  is  in  the  form  of  fine 
sand,  or  very  small  lumps,  it  is  better,  after  weighing 
it  carefully,  to  take  a  small  dry  phial  furnished  with  a 
stopper ;  counterpoise  this  phial  accurately  in  the 
weight-scale  by  shot  or  strips  of  lead,  then  fill  it  com 
pletely  with  pure  water,  taking  care  that  no  bubbles 
of  air  are  left  in,  and  weigh  the  quantity  of  water  it 
contains :  afterwards  empty  the  bottle  and  dry  it 
inside. 

Next  fill  the  bottle  about  two-thirds  full  of  the 
powder  to  be  examined,  weigh  this  and  record  the 
weight.  Then  fill  the  bottle  once  more  with  water, 
taking  care,  as  before,  that  all  bubbles  are  expelled 
and  none  of  the  powder  washed  out.  Once  more 
weigh  it. 

We  have  then  to  make  the  following  calculation  : 

Weight  of  powder  and  water  in  grains    = 
Deduct  weight  of  powder  alone  = 

Difference  (weight  of  water  left  in  bottle)  = 

"Weight  of  bottle  full  of  water  in  grains      = 
Weight  of  water  left  in  bottle  = 


Difference  (weight  of  water  displaced 
by,  and  equal  in  bulk  to,  powder) 


The  specific  gravity  ^  °f  P0wder  in  air 
weight  of  water  displaced. 

It  may  be  useful  to  know  the  specific  gravity  of 
various  substances  at  all  resembling  gold  in  weight  or 


238  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

appearance,  and  we  therefore  append  the  following 
short  table.  The  specific  gravity  of  water  is  assumed 
to  be  unity : — 

Osmium  ....  21| 

Platinum     .     .     .  19  \ — 22  not  hammered. 

Iridium  ....  18T7ff 

Gold 15|— 19£        ditto 

Mercury .     .     .     .  13  \ 

Palladium    .     .     .  HT7ff 

Lead 11* 

Rhodium     .     .     .  lOf 

Silver 10 

Copper    ....  7|— 8 

Brass      .     .     .     .  8| 

Lead  ore  (galena)  7^ 

Copper  pyrites      .  5 

Iron  pyrites      .     .  4 

Diamond      .     .     .  3£ 

Sand       ....  2f— 3 

By  the  help  of  this  table  the  value  of  auriferous 
sand  may  also  be  in  some  degree  estimated,  since,  as 
will  be  seen,  the  specific  gravity  of  most  of  the  sands 
is  under  3,  while  that  of  the  most  impure  gold  is  12 ; 
so  that  if  the  specific  gravity  of  the  sands  them 
selves,  when  experimented  on,  is  much  greater  than 
that  of  ordinary  sand,  it  is  likely  that  the  excess  will 
be  for  the  most  part  gold,  in  a  district  otherwise  known 
to  be  auriferous :  the  greater  the  specific  gravity,  too, 
the  greater  probability  there  is,  of  this  being  the  cause. 
It  may  also  be  worth  while  to  mention  here,  that  the 
specific  gravity  of  those  pepitas  or  lumps  of  gold  which 
present  a  fine  yellow  color  varies  generally  from  14-Sjj 
to  18T8jj ;  but  when  much  paler  they  may  range  as  low 

*  A  very  rough  estimate  of  the  value  of  specimens  of  native  gold 
may  be  obtained  by  multiplying  the  specific  gravity  by  4 ;  the  result 
gives  the  value  in  shillings  nearly. 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


239 


as  12J,  which  is  that  of  a  mineral  called  electrum, 
which  will  be  described  presently,  and  which  is  a  mix- 
ttire  of  silver  and  gold. 

When  a  piece  of  gold  is  broken  (which  is  not  done 
without  difficulty — greater  in  proportion  to  its  purity,) 
the  fractured  edges  are  very  uneven  and  torn,  exhibit 
ing  a  peculiar  fibrous  appearance,  known  to  mineralo 
gists  as  ufine  hackly."  This  fracture  indicates  that 
the  mineral  is  torn  asunder  and  not  really  broken, 
and  is  a  proof  of  considerable  toughness. 

The  form  in  which  gold  is  found  is  various.  It  is 
sometimes  crystalline,  in  eight  or  twelve-sided  regular 
figures,  passing  into  cubes,  but  the  crystals  are  gene 
rally  small  and  rare.  In  case  of  such  crystals  being 
found,  it  is  well  worth  knowing  that  they  possess  a 
value  as  mineral  specimens  far  beyond  that  of  the 
gold  which  they  contain. 

More  frequently  the  metal  is  found  in  lumps  or 
grains,  called  by  the  Spaniards  pepitas,  varying  in 
size  from  that  of  a  pin's  head  to  masses  weighing,  as 
has  been  already  mentioned,  nearly  one  hundred 
pounds  troy.  The  term  pepita  is  only  applied  to 
grains  of  some  magnitude,  and  the  most  common 
limits  of  size  are  from  that  of  a  small  pin's  head  to 
that  of  a  nut  or  gooseberry. 

When  much  smaller  and  still  rounded,  they  are 
called  gold  dust,  and  when  flattened,  scales  or  span 
gles.  In  nature,  and  when  seen  in  veins  of  quartz, 
gold  often  occurs  foliated,  or* in  leafy  expansions  of 
extreme  thinness,  or  in  branchy  (dendritic)  forms, 
probably  made  up  of  minute  crystals.  It  is  in  the 
form  of  very  minute  grains  that  the  metal  is  generally 
disseminated  through  rocks  and  auriferous  ores  of 
various  metals,  and  these  are  reduced  according  to 


240 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


circumstances  in  methods  that  will  be  alluded  to  in  a 
future  chapter.  In  pepitas  and  small  grains  it  is  car 
ried  down  by  streams  and  deposited  in  their  beds,  the 
pepitas  being  usually  most  abundant  where  there  is 
reason  to  suppose  considerable  disintegration  of  the 
surface,  and  where  the  action  of  denuding  causes  to  a 
great  extent  is  evident.  The  coast  of  Africa  and  the 
rivers  of  Europe  are  examples  of  the  former  case, 
while  the  Siberian  deposits  and  those  of  California 
would  appear  to  belong  to  the  latter. 

The  following  are  examples  of  the  constituent  parts 
of  various  specimens  of  gold  obtained  from  different 
gold  districts,  and  will  form  a  useful  guide  for  com 
parison. 

Table  showing  the  Composition  of  Native  Gold.* 


Locality. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Copper.    Iron. 

Auriferous  sand  of  Schabrowski,  near  Kathe-  ) 

98-76 

94-41 

94-00 
93-78 
92-47 
92-00 
89-35 
86-97 
83-85 
82-40 
64-52 
60.08 

0-16 

5-23 
5-85 
5-94 
7-27 
8-00 
10-65 
10-53 
16.15 
17-60 
35-48 
38-38 

0-35 
0-39 

0-08 
0.06 

0.33 

0-05 
0.04 

0-08 

Boruschka,  near  Nijny-Tagilsk,  Siberia  (Rose)-  •  • 

BeresovsK,  si  Dcna  (  Kosej 

oCTota  (Jx>u^sinf,auit)            ^ 

Gold  of  .Senegal  (Darcet)  
Auriferous  sand,  Nijny-Tagilsk,  Siberia  (Rose)  •  • 

Mine  of  Sinarowski  in  the  Altai  (Rose)  

The  gold  from  California,  according  to  the  assay 
of  Mr.  Warwick  of  New  York,  yields  89*58  per  cent, 
pure  gold,  and  is  therefore,  about  equal  to  that  ob 
tained  from  the  washings  of  Miask  (the  richest  district 
in  Western  Siberia,  and  that  producing  the  largest 
pepitas,)  and  superior,  as  the  assayer  remarks,  to  the 
gold  dust  from  Senegal. 

There  is  a  remarkable  mixture  of  native  gold  with 

*  Abridged  from  Dufresnoy's  "  Mineralogie." 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


241 


silver  occasionally  found  in  Siberia,  and  known  under 
the  name  of  electrum.  Its  color  is  pale  brass-yellow, 
passing  into  silver-white.  It  occurs  in  small  plates 
and  imperfect  cubes,  and  possesses  many  of  the  charac 
ters  of  gold,  but  it  consists  only  of  64  per  cent,  of  that 
metal,  and  36  per  cent,  silver.  It  is  at  once  known 
by  its  low  specific  gravity,  which  does  not  exceed  12. 

Other  mixtures  of  gold  are  (1)  a  rJwdium-gold 
found  in  Mexico,  and  containing  34  to  43  per  cent,  of 
rhodium,  having  a  specific  gravity  of  15J — 16-8,  and 
a  clear,  dirty  yellow  color ;  and  (2)  a  palladium-gold 
(containing  9.85  per  cent,  palladium,  and  4*17  per 
cent,  silver)  found  in  Brazil  and  elsewhere  in  South 
America,  in  small  crystalline  grains  of  pale  yellow 
color.  The  auriferous  ores  of  tellurium,  including 
silver,  have  hitherto  only  been  found  in  Transylvania. 
Their  color  is  steel-gray,  and  they  tarnish  on  exposure- 
The  variety  called  graphic-gold,  or  graphic  tellurium, 
consists  of  about  60  per  cent,  of  tellurium,  30  per  cent, 
gold,  and  10  per  cent,  silver,  and  is  worked  chiefly 
as  an  ore  of  gold.  Another  variety,  "yellow  gold 
glance,"  yields  somewhat  less  tellurium,  gold  and 
silver,  and  as  much  as  20  per  cent,  of  lead. 

Having  now  explained  at  some  length  the  more 
manifest  characteristics  of  gold,  namely,  its  color, 
hardness,  and  specific  gravity,  it  is  necessary,  before 
explaining  the  mode  of  separating  it  from  associated 
minerals,  that  we  should  here  give  some  account  of 
the  behavior  of  this  metal  under  the  blowpipe,  and 
when  exposed  to  simple  cheinicaj  tests.  The  assay 
of  gold  and  its  accurate  analysis,  we  postpone  for  the 
present. 

The  method  of  blowpipe  analysis,  although  exceed 
ingly  useful,  is  not  absolutely  necessary  in  the  case 
21 


242  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

of  gold,  because  of  the  many  readier  ways  of  deter 
mining  the  metal,  but  it  seems  advisable  to  state  the 
appearances  presented.  All  the  varieties  are  readily 
fusible  into  a  globule,  which  when  the  gold  is  pure,  is 
unaltered  by  the  continuance  of  the  heat.  In  this 
respect  it  differs  entirely  from  iron  and  copper  pyrites, 
which,  on  being  exposed  to  the  flame,  give  off  sulphur 
fumes  and  undergo  considerable  change.  In  the  case 
of  gold  containing  other  metals,  these,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  silver,  may  generally  be  got  rid  of  by  con 
tinuing  the  heat  in  the  exterior  flame  with  the  addi 
tion  of  a  little  nitre.  Before  the  oxy-hydrogen  blow 
pipe,  the  metal  is  volatilized  in  the  form  of  a  purple 
oxide. 

Gold  is  not  acted  on  by  any  of  the  acids  alone. 
When  exposed  to  the  mixture  of  nitric  with  hydro 
chloric  acid  (in  the  proportion  of  one  part  nitric  to  four 
of  hydrochloric)  called  aqua  regia,  it  dissolves  without 
residue,  the  solution  giving  a  purple  precipitate  with 
protochloride  of  tin,  and  a  brown  precipitate  with  pro- 
tosulphate  of  iron.  Electrum,  the  mixture  of  silver 
with  gold  above  alluded  to,  is  only  partially  soluble  in 
aqua  regia,  giving  a  residue  of  chloride  of  silver.  The 
solution  is  acted  on  by  protosulphate  of  iron,  as  already 
explained. 

The  following  simple  mode  of  detecting  attempts 
at  imposition  in  gold  dust  is  worthy  of  being  recorded 
in  this  place. 

Place  a  little  gold  dust  in  a  glass  tube  or  earthen 
ware  saucer,  and  pour  nitric  acid  upon  it;  then 
hold  the  glass  or  saucer  over  a  flame,  or  upon  a  few 
embers,  until  red  flames  (nitric  vapors)  arise;  if  it 
be  pure  gold,  the  liquid  will  not  become  discolored ; 
but  if  pyrites  or  brass-filings  should  have  been  mixed 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


243 


with  it,  the  acid  will  become  turbid,  green,  and  black, 
discharging  bubbles  of  gas.  After  the  ebullition  has 
ceased,  the  residue  should  be  washed  with  water,  and 
acid  again  poured  upon  it,  when  the  same  effect  may 
be  observed,  but  in  a  less  degree ;  and  if  the  experi 
ment  be  repeated  till  all  effervescence  ceases,  it  will 
finally  leave  the  gold  dust  pure. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


ADDITIONAL   RECENT   EVENTS. 

THE  history  of  the  laws  of  a  State  affords  the  best  idea 
of  its  social  condition — present  and  prospective ;  for 
they  are  framed  from  the  necessity  of  circumstances 
and  the  demands  of  the  inhabitants.  We  may,  there 
fore,  see  the  condition  and  the  progress  of  the  Cali- 
fornians  in  their  legislative  transactions. 

The  California  Legislature  adjourned  on  the  22d 
April.  They  have  passed  a  law  creating  a  State 
assayer,  until  a  mint  be  established  in  California. 
Among  the  one  hundred  and  forty-three  acts  and 
joint  resolutions  passed,  we  notice  the  following : 

To  incorporate  the  cities  of  Benecia,  San  Diego,  San 
Jose,  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco,  Sonoma,  and  Santa 
Barbara,  and  a  general  act  for  the  incorporation  of 
cities ;  concerning  the  State  revenue,  etc,  and  its  man 
agement  ;  creating  loans  temporarily,  appropriations, 
and  other  fiscal  acts ;  relating  to  the  appointment  of 
pilots,  regulating  the  duties  of  harbor  masters,  declar 
ing  certain  rivers,  etc.,  navigable,  creating  health 


244  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

officers  for  San  Francisco,  creating  a  marine  hospital, 
regulating  quarantine  at  San  Francisco,  providing  for 
the  inspection  of  steamboats ;  subdividing  the  State 
into  counties,  establishing  county  seats  and  providing 
for  the  complete  organization  of  all  the  counties ;  or 
ganizing  the  supreme  court,  providing  for  the  early  pub 
lication  of  the  laws,  organizing  district  courts  through 
out  the  State,  establishing  a  municipal  court  in  San 
Francisco,  abolishing  all  laws  in  force  in  the  State,  ex 
cept  such  as  were  passed  by  this  Legislature,  adopting 
the  common  law,  regulating  the  interest  of  money, 
public  ferries,  notaries  public,  jails  and  jailers, 
limited  partnerships,  roads  and  highways,  public  elec 
tions,  volunteer  companies,  wills,  militia,  liens  of 
mechanics  and  others,  descents  and  distributions,  bills 
of  exchange  and  promissory  notes,  constables,  coro 
ners,  guardians,  fraudulent  conveyances  and  contracts, 
the  rights  of  husband  and  wife,  incorporation  of  col 
leges,  marriages,  auctioneers,  government  and  protec 
tion  of  the  Indians,  settlement  of  the  estates  of  de 
ceased  persons,  proceedings  against  debtor  by  attach 
ment  ;  creating  the  office  of  State  assayer,  melter 
and  refiner  of  gold,  to  regulate  Senatorial  and  As 
sembly  districts,  prescribing  the  mode  of  maintaining 
and  defending  possessory  actions  on  lands  belonging 
to  the  United  States ;  to  prevent  the  importation  of 
convicts ;  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  mines  and  the 
government  of  foreign  miners,  the  national  Washington 
monument,  pay  of  chaplain,  the  Pacific  railway,  and 
concerning  grants  of  land  by  the  General  Govern 
ment  to  commissioned  officers  who  served  in  the  late 
war  with  Mexico. 

Here  we  have  all  the  machinery  necessary  for  the  full 
regulation  of  a  large,  commercial,  agricultural,  manu- 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


245 


facturing,  and  mining  community.  The  session  of  the 
Legislature  must  have  been  laborious,  indeed ;  but 
the  members  have  acquitted  themselves  of  their  ar 
duous  duties  rapidly  and  well.  One  great  measure 
adopted  by  the  Legislature  was  the  substitution  of 
the  common  law  for  the  uncertain  civil  law  which 
existed  in  California  when  ceded  to  the  United  States. 
The  whole  legal  administration  will  now  conform  to 
that  of  most  of  the  other  States  of  the  Union.  The 
provisions  in  the  Constitution  for  the  purpose  of  edu 
cation,  have  been  nobly  carried  out  by  an  act  for  tho 
incorporation  of  colleges. 

Agriculture  in  California  appears  to  be  improving, 
and  as  it  is  getting  to  be  as  profitable  as  any  thing 
else,  it  is  attracting  increased  attention.  Boxes  of 
garden  seeds  which  had  cost  nine  dollars,  have  been 
sold  for  one  hundred  dollars,  and  scythes  which  cost 
three  dollars,  sold  for  forty-five  dollars.  The  seeds 
which  were  sent  around  Cape  Horn,  were  almost  use 
less,  while  those  which  went  over  the  Isthmus,  her 
metically  scaled,  came  up  first.  One  man  near  San 
Jose,  has  made  fifty  thousand  dollars  by  raising  pota 
toes.  What  toil  in  digging  and  washing  gold  would 
be  necessary  to  realize  that  amount ! 

Among  the  recent  mining  incidents,  the  following 
is  remarkable : — Last  winter,  three  men  accidentally 
struck  upon  a  rich  deposit  of  gold,  in  a  gulch  about 
twelve  miles  from  Knight's  Ferry,  on  the  Stanislaus 
River,  and  four  or  five  miles  back  from  it.  They 
worked  this  vein  with  great  success,  managing  to  keep 
it  a  secret,  until  an  Indian,  wandering  through  the 
locality,  discovered  the  secret,  and  communicated  it 
to  his  tribe.  The  next  day,  several  hundred  Indians 
fell  to  work,  with  the  same  success ;  but  as  they  spent 
21* 


246  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

their  earnings  in  gambling  and  drinking  at  night, 
they  incautiously  let  out  the  secret,  and  it  spread 
among  the  whites.  The  latter,  without  scruple,  took 
possession  of  the  ground,  and  set  the  Indians  adrift. 
An  alcalde  was  elected,  the  ground  staked  off,  and 
allotted  to  the  several  claimants.  This  gulch,  although 
rifled  of  its  richest  treasures,  afforded  good  digging 
for  a  large  number  of  persons,  for  some  weeks,  many 
carrying  away,  when  the  water  failed,  a  thousand 
dollars  and  upwards,  as  the  result  of  their  labors. 
The  three  discoverers  of  the  gulch,  took  away  with 
them  about  forty  pounds  of  gold  to  each  man,  all 
scraped  up  in  the  short  space  of  seven  weeks. 

Imitation  lumps  of  gold  have  been  made  and  brought 
into  circulation  in  California.  The  State  Assayer 
states  that  above  forty  specimens  have  been  brought 
to  his  notice.  They  are  generally  in  size  from  four 
to  five  ounces  to  a  pound  in  weight — quartz,  and  every 
thing  else  necessary  to  make  them  look  right,  properly 
intermixed. 

It  has  been  definitely  settled  that  gold  does  exist  in 
the  vicinity  of  San  Jose'.  Specimens  have  been  taken 
to  San  Francisco. 

Several  artesian  wells  have  been  constructed  at  San 
Francisco,  since  the  second  great  fire,  and  it  is  thought 
that  others  will  soon  add  to  the  comfort  and  conve 
nience  of  the  people  of  that  city.  The  want  of  good 
water  for  drinking  purposes,  has  been  the  most  serious 
objection  to  San  Francisco  as  a  place  of  residence ; 
and  additional  incentive  to  exertion  in  the  matter  is 
furnished  by  the  constant  apprehension  of  destructive 
fires.* 

*  The  Alia  Californian,  of  the  1st  of  May,  1850,  furnishes  us  with 
an  interesting  account  of  the  origin  and  meaning  of  the  names  of 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


247 


Coal  has  been  discovered  in  California,  in  various 
places,  and  is  reported  to  abound  in  considerable 
quantities  in  the  neighborhood  of  San  Francisco. 
Every  day  developes  some  new  wealth  of  this  land  of 

places  in  the  new  State.  We  have  elsewhere  alluded  to  the  name 
California,  as  being  derived  from  calwnte  and  fornalla,  two  Spanish 
words,  together  signifying  hot  furnace. 

Pueblo  de  los  Angeles— City  of  the  Angels.  So  named  from  the  fer 
tility  of  the  soil,  the  geniality  of  the  climate,  &c. 

San  Diego,  Santa  Barbara,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Santa  Clara,  Santa 
Cruz,  San  Francisco,  were  all  originally  Catholic  missionary  stations 
and  were  so  named  by  the  priests. 

Monterey  signifies  literally  king  of  forests,  and  was  so  called  in 
honor  of  Count  Monterey,  as  well  as  from  the  neighboring  forest  of 
massive  pines  and  other  trees. 

Contra  Costa,  the  name  of  a  county,  signifies  opposite  coast,  from 
its  being  opposite  San  Francisco.  Mount  Diablo,  which  is  in  this 
county,  was  named  from  the  following  circumstance  : 

In  1806  a  military  expedition  from  San  Francisco  inarched  against 
the  tribe  "Bolgones,"  who  were  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the  mount ; 
the  Indians  were  prepared  to  receive  the  expedition,  and  a  hot  en 
gagement  ensued  in  the  large  hollow  fronting  the  western  side  of  the 
mount.  As  the  victory  was  about  to  be  decided  in  favor  of  the  Indians, 
an  unknown  personage,  decorated  with  the  most  extraordinary  plu 
mage,  and  making  divers  movements,  suddenly  appeared  near  the 
combatants.  The  Indians  were  victorious,  and  the  incognitio  (Puy) 
departed  toward  the  mount.  The  defeated  soldiers,  on  ascertaining 
that  the  spirit  went  through  the  same  ceremony  daily  and  at  all  hours, 
named  the  mount  "Diablo,"  in  allusion  to  its  mysterious  inhabitant, 
that  continued  thus  to  make  his  strange  appearance,  until  the  tribe 
was  subdued  by  the  troops  in  command  of  Lieutenant  Gabriel  Mo- 
raga,  in  a  second  campaign  of  the  same  year.  In  the  aboriginal 
tongue  "Puy"  signifies  "Evil  Spirit;"  in  Spanish  it  means  Diablo, 
and  Devil  in  the  Anglo-American  language. 

Calaveras  signifies  skulls,  and  the  creek  thus  styled  was  named  from 
the  fact  of  three  thousand  skulls  having  been  found  lying  on  its  banks 
by  its  early  discoverers.  They  were  the  remnants  of  a  great  battle  be 
tween  the  Indians. 

Tuolumne,  which  has  been  spelt  so  many  different  ways  in  the 
letters  from  California,  is  a  corruption  of  the  Indian  word  "  talma- 
lamme,"  a.  cluster  of  stone  wigwams. 

Mariposa  means  butterfly.  The  river  was  so  named  in  1807,  by  a 
hunting  party  of  Califomians,  from  the  fact  of  their  encampment 
there  having  been  surrounded  by  myriads  of  most  gorgeous  butterflies. 

Solano  was  so  named  after  a  celebrated  Catholic  missionary. 

Yolo  is  a  corruption  of  the  Indian  word  "  Yoloy,"and  means  a  place 
abounding  witJi  rushes. 


248  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

treasure,  and  we  regard  the  discovery  of  the  abundance 
of  coal  as  in  the  highest  degree  important  to  the  resi 
dents  of  California.  Even  amid  the  news  of  the 
extraordinary  yield  of  the  gold  region  during  the 
present  year,  1850,  when  a  single  vessel,  in  one  trip, 
brings  $2,000,000  worth  of  gold  dust  to  the  United 
States,  we  can  pause  to  notice  the  discovery  of  the 
more  useful  substances. 

The  Trinity  River  and  Humboldt  Harbor,  in  the 
north-western  part  of  California,  have  lately  become  a 
resort  for  the  superfluous  population  of  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  regions.  The  harbor  is  pronounced 
a  very  good  one,  and  the  discovery  of  abundance  of 
gold  on  the  branches  of  Trinity  River,  will,  doubtless, 
contribute  to  the  building  of  a  large  town  upon  its 
shores. 

In  the  middle  of  June,  there  was  much  excitement 
in  San  Francisco,  caused  by  the  reported  discovery 
of  a  gold  lake,  among  the  mountains  between  the  South 
Fork  of  Feather  River  and  the  Yuba.  One  man  was 
said  to  have  got  §7000  in  four  days,  and  a  party  of 
ten  Kanakas  were  reported  to  have  got  $75,000  in  a 

Marin  was  so  designated  after  a  great  Indian  chief,  who  made  war 
so  desperately  against  the  Spaniards. 

Sonoma  is  an  Indian  word,  signifying  valley  of  the  moon.  The  In 
dians  so  named  the  valley  in  which  the  present  town  of  that  title  is 
situated. 

Napa  was  the  name  of  the  Indian  tribe  who  inhabited  the  valley 
of  the  same  name. 

Mendocino  was  so  named  after  the  first  Viceroy  of  Mexico. 

Yuba,  a  corruption  of  "  uba,"  originally  alluded  to  the  immense 
quantities  of  vines  which  shaded  the  river. 

Suite  is  a  French  word  signifying  hill,  and  was  given  by  a  party 
of  hunters  from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  to  a  range  of  high  hills 
in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento.  From  thence  the  county  is  named. 

Coluse  county  was  so  called  after  an  Indian  tribe  of  which  it  was 
the  name. 

Shalta  county  is  so  styled  after  an  Indian  tribe  also. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


249 


week.  A  vast  number  of  people  were  by  this  means 
attracted  to  the  sources  of  'the  Feather  and  Yuba 
Rivers,  and  though  they  found  the  lake  story  a  hoax 
of  a  vile  character,  they  found  tolerably  fair  diggings, 
which  would  console  them  for  their  disappointment. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Placer  Times  of 
the  17th  of  July,  1850,  under  the  head  of  "  Great 
Discoveries  of  Gold — Gold  Lake,"  will  afford  the 
reader  a  lively  conception  of  the  degree  of  excitement 
caused  in  California  by  every  new  announcement  of 
a  newly  discovered  locality  abounding  in  gold : 

"  We  were  inclined  to  give  only  an  average  degree 
of  credit  to  stories  that  have  reached  us  during  the 
past  few  days,  of  the  unprecedented  richness  which 
this  locality  has  developed.  A  few  moments  passed 
in  Marysville  on  Saturday,  convinced  us  that  there  is 
much  more  show  of  reality  in  this  last  eureka  report, 
than  usually  attaches  to  the  like.  In  a  year's  experi 
ence  of  local  excitements  from  the  same  cause,  we 
have  seen  none  equal  to  what  now  prevails  in  that 
town.  It  has  visited  all  the  inhabitants  indiscrimi 
nately,  lawyers,  doctors  and  judges,  traders,  teamsters, 
mechanics  and  gamblers.  Our  readers  know  we  are 
the  last  to  justify  the  circulation  of  unfounded  or 
exaggerated  reports,  but  we  deem  it  right  to  conceal 
nothing  of  what  may  prove  (for  aught  that  we  can  see 
to  the  contrary)  one  of  the  most  astounding  discoveries 
in  the  modern  history  of  diggings.  The  specimens 
brought  into  Marysville  are  of  a  value  from  $1600 
down.  Ten  ounces  is  reported  as  no  unusual  yield  to 
a  panfull,  and  the  first  party  of  sixty,  which  started 
out  under  the  guidance  of  one  who  had  returned  suc 
cessful,  were  assured  that  they  would  not  get  less  than 
$500  each  per  day.  We  were  told  that  the  previous 


250  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

morning  two  hundred  had  left  the  town  with  a  full 
supply  of  provisions  and  four  hundred  mules.  Those 
who  could  not  go  were  hiring  others  in  their  stead. 
The  length  of  the  journey  and  the  quantity  of  provi 
sions  required,  there  being  no  stores  in  the  region, 
rendered  an  outfit  rather  expensive.  Mules  and 
horses  had  doubled  in  value,  and  $400  were  considered 
no  more  than  enough  to  furnish  a  proper  start. 

The  distance  to  Gold  Lake  was  first  reported  two 
hundred  miles ;  the  best  informed,  however,  say  that 
it  is  but  little  more  than  half  of  that.  It  lies  at  a 
very  considerable  elevation  among  the  mountains  that 
divide  the  waters  of  the  South  Fork  of  Feather  from 
those  of  the  north  branch  of  the  Yuba.  The  direction 
from  Marysville  is  a  little  north  of  east.  The  story 
has  of  course  spread  ere  this  far  and  wide  among  the 
miners  high  up  on  the  Feather  and  Yuba,  and  the 
spot  will  be  as  crowded  as  all  other  good  places  are, 
ere  the  tardy  adventurer  from  this  region  could  reach 
it.  The  region  of  the  Gold  Lake  wonders  is  a  new 
one,  however,  and  lies  between  what  are  established 
to  be  diggings  of  unsurpassed  richness.  It  is  our 
belief  that  it  is  better  for  one  who  has  got  some  initia 
tion  into  the  gold  mysteries,  (if  there  be  any,)  not  to 
be  content  in  old  '  used  up'  localities,  but  to  push  along 
to  the  great  field  yet  unexplored;  and  that,  though 
the  search  be  long  and  laborious,  the  big  lift  is  ulti 
mately  pretty  sure  for  those  who  are  patient  and  per 
severing. 

The  same  paper  of  July  18th,  contains  additional 
particulars,  having  a  tendency  to  add  plausibility  to 
the  reports.  Among  other  things,  a  man  by  the  name 
of  McLelland  came  into  Marysville  on  the  17th,  with 
$7000,  the  result  of  four  days'  labor  at  Gold  Lake. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


251 


Whatever  may  be  the  truth  of  the  reports,  there  is  no 
doubt  of  one  thing — the  whole  population  of  Marys- 
ville  and  its  vicinity  have  become  infected  by  the  news, 
and  are  taking  up  their  march  thitherwards  in  crowds. 

The  Transcript  speaks  rather  doubtingly  on  the 
subject ;  it  says — "  The  reports  come  as  a  general 
thing,  through  teamsters  and  other  persons  whose 
interest  it  is  to  give  as  favorable  accounts  as  possible. 
The  statements  are  very  conflicting." 

To  this  we  may  add  the  statement  of  a  gentleman 
who  reached  this  city  from  Marysville,  direct,  on 
Tuesday  night.  The  excitement,  he  says,  is  great; 
but  no  one  could  give  any  definite  information  of  the 
locality  or  of  its  productiveness.  Yet  all  seemed  to 
think  there  was  no  doubt  in  the  matter,  and  as  many 
as  could  get  away  were  starting,  or  getting  ready  to 
push  for  the  new  El  Dorado.  Upon  his  way  down,  on 
board  the  boat,  he  conversed  with  a  man  who  professed 
to  have  explored  that  region  lately,  although  he  did 
not  claim  to  know  where  Gold  Lake  was.  But  between 
the  North  Fork  of  the  Yuba  and  Feather  Rivers,  at 
the  foot  of  the  great  chain  of  mountains,  he  reported 
a  series  of  lakes  of  various  dimensions,  and  "  two 
thousand  people,"  prospecting  all  about.  The  snow 
was  very  deep — "  six  feet" — and  but  little  gold. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Placer  Times,  is  the 
most  positive  information  within  our  knowledge. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  "  Lawrence,"  yesterday,  from 
Marysville,  we  received  more  news  of  the  Gold  Lake 
excitement,  now  prevailing  in  those  parts.  It  pro 
mises  to  spare  no  one.  Many  who  would  not  be 
understood  to  have  yielded  to  it,  seek,  under  various 
pretences,  to  get  away — some  pleading  business  in 
other  quarters  of  the  mines  j  others  desiring  the  recrea- 


252  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

tion  of  a  country  jaunt.  It  is  reported  that,  up  to 
Thursday  last,  two  thousand  persons  had  taken  up 
their  journey;  that  many  who  were  working  good 
claims,  and  had  made  considerable  progress,  were 
deserting  them  for  the  new  discovery.  Mules  and 
horses  were  almost  impossible  to  be  obtained.  A 
supply  from  this  quarter  was  expected  daily,  and  most 
anxiously  awaited.  Although  the  truth  of  the  report 
rest  on  the  authority  of  but  two  or  three  who  have 
returned  from  Gold  Lake,  yet  but  few  are  found  who 
doubt  their  marvellous  revelations.  The  first  man 
who  came  into  Marysville  took  out  a  party  of  forty  as 
guide,  on  condition  they  paid  him  one  hundred  dollars 
each  if  his  story  was  verified,  and  offering  his  life  as  a 
forfeit  for  any  deception. 

"  This  party,  it  is  understood,  came  near  losing  their 
way,  from  the  difficulty  the  guide  found  in  retracing 
his  path,  after  the  snow  had  melted.     Fortunately, 
however,  they  encountered  another  man,  who  was  on 
his  way  returning,  and  he  showed  the  track.     The 
second  person  has  since  left  with  a  much  larger  party, 
who  are  to  give  him  two  hundred  dollars  each,  and 
the  same  forfeit  is  provided.     The  spot  is   described 
as  very  difficult  of  approach,  and  it  is  feared  that 
many  will  lose  their  way.     A  party  of  ten  Kanakas 
are  reported  to  have  wintered  at  Gold  Lake,  subsist 
ing  chiefly  on  the  flesh   of  their  animals.     They  are 
said  to  have  taken  out  about  $75,000  the  first  week. 
The  lake  is  not  large,  and,  after  the  wet  season  ceases, 
has  no  outlet ;  at  present,  however,  the  water  runs 
over  the  basin,  and  finds  its  way  into  the  North  Fork 
of  Feather  River.     At  a  lower  stage,  it  admits  of 
easy  drainage,  and  the  undertaking  is  already  pro 
jected. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


253 


"Of  course  the  most  extravagant  anticipations  are 
founded  on  the  result  of  this  work,  induced  by  the 
yield  from  the  borders  of  the  lake  which  have  already 
been  realized.  _The  "  placer"  proper  is  very  limited, 
and  little  encouragement  is  given  as  to  the  character 
of  the  surrounding  country;  indeed,  it  is  probably 
entirely  unexplored,  as  the  region  lies  about  as  far 
up  among  the  snows  as  the  most  adventurous  have  yet 
penetrated." 

The  Yuba  River  is  destined  to  be  thoroughly  rifled 
of  its  wealth.  Three  miles  above  the  new  town  of 
Lina,  a  company  has  turned  the  river  from  its  course, 
and  made  it  run  through  a  lateral  slough.  Prospect 
ing  of  the  bed  has  proved  very  satisfactory,  and  the 
shares  in  the  company's  stock  have  sold  at  a  high  rate. 

As  was  apprehended,  various  difficulties  have  oc 
curred  between  the  owners  of  land  at  Sacramento  City, 
and  a  large  number  of  squatters  upon  it.  The  ground 
was  bought  and  surveyed,  and  the  title  to  ownership 
was  perfect.  But  the  number  of  emigrants  who 
arrive  at  Sacramento  at  particular  seasons  forces 
them  to  encamp  outside  of  the  regularly  built  town, 
and  when  thus  encamped,  they  consider  themselves 
as  settlers,  and  are  unwilling  to  give  up  possession  of 
the  ground.  The  power  of  the  law  has  been  called 
into  requisition  several  times  to  eject  these  squatters. 

The  emigrants  to  California  by  way  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake  route  have  endured  terrible  hardships  during 
the  present  year.  The  rigors  of  the  season,  and  the 
want  of  water,  have  been  but  secondary  matters.  The 
Indians,  always  unfriendly,  have  been  particularly 
hostile,  and  several  battles  between  them  and  the  emi 
grants  have  taken  place.  In  one  of  the  battles,  thirty 
Indians  were  killed,  while  the  whites  had  several 
22 


254  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

wounded,  but  none  killed.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
assailants  belonged  to  the  Utahs.  The  Salt  Lake 
City  is  the  great  refuge  of  the  belated  emigrants  upon 
that  route,  arid  the  Mormons  are  hospitable  to  all  who 
visit  them  for  shelter,  or  for  mere  curiosity. 

The  great  body  of  the  emigrants  continue  to  take 
the  old  route,  which  we  have  elsewhere  described,  and 
find  that  it  is  the  safest  and  shortest  of  the  land 
routes.  Judging  from  the  statements  of  the  number 
of  emigrants  who  have  passed  Fort  Laramie  this  sea 
son,  we  should  say,  that  the  route  could  scarcely  be 
called  a  wilderness,  when  it  is  impossible  to  travel 
thirty  miles  without  meeting  with  parties  and  families 
of  whites.  Part  of  this  tide  of  emigration  will  flow 
to  Oregon,  no  doubt,  on  account  of  the  fertile  lands 
to  be  there  obtained ;  but  the  golden  land  will  get  the 
bulk  of  it. 

In  a  recent  tour  through  the  region  bordering  on 
Moqueleme  River,  in  California,  a  couple  of  gentle 
men  from  Stockton,  discovered  a  cave  or  grotto  of 
great  extent.  They  found  that  it  contained  large 
quantities  of  stalactite,  and  saw  evidences  of  gold. 
The  Indians  who  accompanied  the  gentlemen  were 
horror  stricken  at  their  audacity,  when  they  entered 
a  cave  which  tradition  said  no  man  returned  from 
alive.  The  skeleton  of  a  human  being  was  found  at 
some  distance  from  the  opening. 

An  event  has  occurred  which  will  no  doubt  exercise 
a  great  influence  on  California  affairs.  This  is  the 
discovery  of  the  existence  of  abundance  of  gold  in 
Oregon  territory.  The  discovery  created  great  ex 
citement  through  the  various  cities  and  towns  of 
Oregon,  and  the  northern  towns  of  California.  That 
which  is  exhibited,  shows  an  entirely  different  charac- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  255 

ter  to  any  of  that  dug  in  the  mines  of  California.  It 
contains  large  quantities  of  platina,  and  is  said  to  be 
of  a  richer  character.  The  mines  just  discovered  are 
situated  about  two  hundred  miles  from  Oregon  City. 
The  consequences  of  this  discovery  may  be  easily  ap 
prehended.  Oregon  will  secure  a  larger  share  of  the 
emigration  from  the  Atlantic  States  than  she  had 
before,  and  her  progress  will  be  rapid,  for  her  soil  and 
climate  render  the  country  an  attractive  place  of  re 
sidence.  But  will  the  progress  of  California  be  less 
rapid  in  consequence  of  this?  We  think  not.  The 
united  attractions  of  the  two  territories  will  operate 
for  the  benefit  of  both,  and  only  tend  to  increase  the 
quantity  of  emigration. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A  GENERAL  VIEW  OF  CALIFORNIA  AT  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 

WE  have  followed  the  narrative  of  the  events  in  the 
history  of  California  up  to  the  present  time.  We 
have  traced  her  progress  from  her  first  settlement  up 
to  the  time  when  she  appears  as  a  sovereign  republican 
State ;  and  we  have  seen  the  effects  of  her  vast 
metallic  wealth  working  wonders  in  a  short  space  of 
time.  We  have  seen  her  towns  before  and  after  the 
gold  discovery,  and  marked  the  contrast ;  and  we  have 
seen  her  territory  become  thickly  peopled,  and  her 
resources  developed  in  a  space  of  time  which  other 
territories  less  favored,  would  require  for  an  infancy. 
We  have  also  considered  her  soil,  climate,  productions, 
and  population,  and  exhibited  each  subject  as  fully  as 


256  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

our  information  warranted.  But  in  order  to  give  a 
clear  conception  of  the  general  character  of  Califor 
nia  and  her  resources  and  capabilities,  and  to  enable 
the  reader  to  obtain  an  idea  of  the  bright  future  to 
which  she  is  destined,  we  have  concluded  to  add 
another  chapter  upon  the  general  state  of  things  there 
at  the  present  time. 

California  is  now  a  State — in  organization  at  least, 
if  not  in  being  a  member  of  the  Union.  The  country 
has  become  thoroughly  American  in  its  government 
and  laws.  A  Constitution  is  adopted  as  a  State  organi 
zation,  which  bears  the  impress  of  enlightened  senti 
ment  and  just  principles.  The  most  liberal  provisions 
have  been  made  in  that  instrument  for  the  grand  end 
of  public  education.  The  power  and  capability  of  the 
people  to  rule  themselves  has  been  recognized  in  the 
matter  of  electing  nearly  all  the  officers  of  the  govern 
ment — including  the  judges  of  the  various  courts  over 
which  the  State  has  control.  The  Legislature,  in  the 
course  of  a  laborious  session,  has  abolished  the  old  civil 
law  which  ruled  the  country  under  the  Mexican  govern 
ment,  and  continued  after  the  acquisition  of  the  terri 
tory  by  the  United  States,  and  have  substituted  the  com 
mon  law  of  England  and  many  of  the  States  in  the 
Union.  In  taking  this  step,  they  were  actuated  by 
sound  policy.  Few  of  those  who  were  subjected  to  be 
tried,  or  to  have  their  suits  decided  by  the  rules  of 
this  civil  code  were  aware  of  the  nature  of  these 
rules' ;  and  from  their  crude  and  unintelligible  charac 
ter,  it  would  have  been  a  long  time  before  they  could 
have  been  fully  or  certainly  informed.  The  old  com 
mon  law  is  that  to  whose  rules  they  have  conformed 
in  the  older  States,  and  which  is  better  suited  to  their 
habits  and  principles  of  action. 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFOUXM.  2S7 

But  with  her  complete  State  organization,  Caiifo;  ma 
has  applied  for  admission  into  the  Union,  and  from 
yarious  causes,  without  reason,  as  we  conceive,  has  not 
yet  been  admitted  to  her  claim.  This  delay,  continued 
through  a  long  session  of  Congress,  has  somewhat 
irritated  the  Californians,  who  are  anxiously  watching 
the  doings  of  Congress.  The  state  of  feeling  on  the 
subject  is  clearly  stated  in  one  of  the  California  papers ; 
and  it  is  worthy  of  attention.  We  extract  it. 

"SHALL  CALIFORNIA  BE  ADMITTED? — We  desire 
once  more  to  state  calmly  and  firmly  the  grievances 
under  which  the  State  of  California  labors,  in  order 
that  Congress,  in  her  hesitation,  which  may  terminate 
in  an  open  refusal  to  admit  us  as  equal  sharers  in  the 
benefits,  as  we  are  of  the  burdens  of  the  general 
government,  may  not  act  in  ignorance  of  the  true  state  of 
feeling  existing  here  upon  a  point  so  vital  to  our  future. 

"  California  feels  that  she  has  been  made  the  sport 
of  gambling  politicians  long  enough.  This  is  the  uni 
versal  sentiment  of  one  hundred  thousand  citizens  of 
this  State,  expecting  daily  reinforcements  which  will 
swell  the  number  to  an  aggregate  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  before  the  second  session  of  the  present 
Congress.  She  feels  that  such  a  mass  of  men,  born 
under  the  flag  of  the  Union,  have  a  right  to  some  of 
the  privileges  which  they  were  taught  to  suppose 
it  typified.  She  feels  that  she  has  no  right  to  be 
taxed  and  not  protected — to  be  taxed,  and  not 
represented,  to  be  taxed,  and  nothing  but  taxed. 
Nothing  else  has  been  done  for  her.  We  hear  of 
no  Indian  agent  in  the  country.  American  citizens 
are  slaughtered  weekly  if  not  daily  by  savages  on 
our  border.  An  agent  of  the  Postoffice  Depart 
ment  has  been  sent  here,  but  his  power  to  put  into 
22* 


258  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

successful  operation  a  thorough  mail  system,  com 
mensurate  with  the  wants  of  the  people,  has  been 
effectually  crippled  from  the  want  of  an  appropriation 
to  meet  the  necessary  expenses.  We  are  without 
admiralty  courts  ;  yet  the  interests  of  the  commerce 
of  the  Pacific  are  centring  in  the  Bay  of  San  Fran 
cisco.  We  are  paying  millions  into  the  treasury  of  the 
United  States  yearly.  Our  custom-house  is  thronged 
daily  with  captains  and  consignees  of  vessels,  paying 
government  dues,  which  eventually  come  from  the 
pockets  of  the  citizens  of  the  whole  State ;  yet  there 
is  hardly  a  possibility  that  one  dollar  in  a  thousand 
will  ever  be  expended  for  our  benefit. 

"  This  state  of  things  is  unnatural — too  much  so  for 
a  quiet  endurance,  unless  stern  necessity  is  at  the 
bottom.  Were  there  any  reason  why  we  should  be 
i  treated  thus,  we  could  patiently  suffer  on.  But  there 
is  none.  And  now  a  sentiment  is  fast  gaining  ground 
here,  that  it  is  the  intention  of  Congress — or  a  portion 
of  Congress,  to  throw  us  back  upon  a  territorial  organi 
zation.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  that  California, 
under  no  circumstances,  will  give  up  her  State  organi 
zation.  She  has  just  escaped  from  the  crudities  and 
unintelligibilities  of  the  Mexican  code.  Under  it,  she 
would  still  belaboring,  had  the  action  of  Congress  been 
awaited.  Neither  to  this  state  of  vassalage  to  institu 
tions  foreign  to  the  habits  and  education  of  her  citizens, 
nor  to  a  second  vassalage  of  territorial  government  under 
Congress,  will  she  submit  now.  She  knows  her  interests 
too  well  for  this.  If  we  are  driven  to  take  matters  into 
our  own  keeping,  the  responsibility  rests  not  upon  us, 
neither  should  the  odium,  if  any  attaches.  Should 
Congress  ever  come  to  its  senses,  and  do  what  naked 
justice  demanded  months  ago,  California  will  ever  be 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  259 

ready  and  proud  to  form  one  of  the  States  of  the 
Union  ;  but  it  is  asking  too  much  that  she  should  offer 
herself  a  willing  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  demagogues." 

This  is  strongly  and  firmly  said ;  and  we  hope  that 
it  will  exercise  some  influence  on  those  to  whose  atten 
tion  it  is  directed.  Nothing  can  be  more  unjust  in 
politics  than  taxation  without  a  due  compensation  of 
protection  and  of  law.  There  is  scarcely  any  pros 
pect,  however,  that  California  will  be  required  to  go 
back  to  a  territorial  organization.  Such  a  request 
would  be  absurd  in  the  highest  degree,  and  none  but 
ultras  recommend  it. 

Whether  California  be  admitted  into  the  Union  at 
the  present  session  of  Congress,  or  not,  we  may  con 
sider  her  Constitution  and  many  of  her  laws  necessary 
for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution,  as 
fixed  and  operative.  "We  have  then,  in  a  knowledge 
of  their  laws,  a  view  of  the  character  of  society  in 
California,  in  many  particulars,  but  there  are  others 
which  require  further  observation.  One  feature  strikes 
the  observer  at  first  glance.  It  is  the  variety  of  nation 
which  marks  the  population  of  the  principal  cities  of 
California.  There  may  be  seen  the  rapid,  yet  prudent 
Yankee,  with  a  sharp  eye  to  the  main  chance,  and  a 
ready  comprehension  of  the  consequences  of  a  bargain 
or  a  speculation;  the  cool,  slow,  and  heavy-moving 
Englishman,  wishing  to  be  sure  of  his  game,  and, 
therefore,  late  in  grasping  for  it ;  the  lively  and  sociable 
Frenchman,  contrasting  appearances  and  manners 
with  things  in  Paris ;  the  coarse-looking  German,  with 
a  lively  conception  of  the  wealth  of  the  country,  and 
a  deep  consideration  of  the  means  of  grasping  a  goodly 
share  of  it ;  the  half-Spanish  native  of  California,  with 
his  love  of  indolence,  and  easy  of  satisfaction  ;  the 


260  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Chilian,  with  the  ferocity  and  the  cowardice  of  the 
descendants  of  the  Spaniards,  and  loving  fandangoes 
and  riding  horses,  as  intensely  as  the  Calif ornians ; 
the  Chinese,  with  dirty,  but  industrious  habits,  and 
the  native  Indians — a  mean,  degraded  specimen  of  that 
noble  race  that  once  were  lords  of  the  American  forests. 
At  the  present  time,  it  is  a  matter  of  doubt, 
whether  the  Americans  or  the  foreigners  predominate 
in  the  population  of  California.  It  is  certain  that 
the  former  have  things  pretty  much  their  own  way  in 
the  various  cities  and  in  the  mines.  But  that  may  be 
from  a  want  of  unity  of  action  among  the  foreigners. 
The  habits  and  modes  of  life  belonging  to  the  Ameri 
cans  are  generally  prevalent  in  the  cities ;  but  in  the 
smaller  and  older  towns,  the  native  Californians  con 
duct  every  thing  in  the  old  Spanish  mode.  The  differ 
ence  between  the  society  of  Los  Angeles  and  Sacra 
mento  City,  is  wide,  and  affords  a  good  contrast  be 
tween  the  restless,  enterprising,  utilitarian  spirit  of 
the  Americans,  and  the  indolent,  pleasure-loving  spirit 
of  the  Californians.  With  the  Americans,  in  the 
cities  where  they  are  in  the  majority,  business  is  the 
uppermost  consideration  upon  all  occasions,  and  profit 
and  loss,  and  chances  of  obtaining  a  competency,  the 
constant  subject  of  thought.  With  the  Californians, 
the  enjoyment  of  the  present,  which  alone  is  theirs, 
is  at  all  times  a  matter  of  prime  importance ;  and 
gambling,  drinking,  dancing,- guitar-playing,  and  riding 
on  horseback,  are  the  principal  sources  of  their  plea 
sures.  Which  of  these  modes  of  passing  away  life 
is  the  most  philosophical,  we  leave  to  the  speculative. 
But  it  is  apparent  in  California,  that  the  energy  of 
the  American  character  is  exercising  a  great  influence 
on  the  descendants  of  the  Spaniards.  Their  spirit  is 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


261 


infectious.  In  some  of  the  towns  upon  the  coast,  one 
half  of  the  buildings  are  occupied  by  persons  who 
have  emigrated  from  the  Eastern  States;  and  the 
contrast  between  their  log  and  brick  houses,  and  the 
adobe  houses  of  the  Californians,  is  singular,  and 
seems  as  if  the  old  dead  looking  trunk  of  the  tree 
had  suddenly  sent  out  new  branches  full  of  life  and 
freshness. 

All  the  vices  consequent  upon  a  heterogeneous 
population,  suddenly  thrown  together  and  stimulated 
to  an  extraordinary  degree  of  activity,  have  fully  ex 
hibited  themselves  in  California.  Nearly  every  body 
in  the  mining  regions  carries  deadly  weapons  of  some 
sort,  and  with  the  promptings  of  avarice,  and  the  ex 
citement  of  passion,  many  shocking,  secret  murders, 
and  many  open,  revengeful  encounters  are  continually 
occurring.  The  practice  of  carrying  deadly  weapons 
can  only  be  abolished  when  a  stronger  feeling  of 
security,  induced  by  a  confidence  in  the  protection  of 
the  laws,  shall  take  the  place  of  constant  dread.  The 
mining  population  is  of  as  mixed  a  character  as  that 
in  the  commercial  cities ;  and  national  jealousies  will 
occur  occasionally.  The  elation  consequent  upon  suc 
cessful  gold  digging  and  speculating,  leads  to  excess 
in  drinking  and  gambling,  and  these  lead  to  frequent 
quarrels  and  deadly  encounters.  The  remedy  for 
these  things  is  only  to  be  found  in  the  reaction  to 
which  a  few  years  will  lead,  when  the  power  of  the 
law  shall  be  supreme  throughout  the  gold  region. 

The  principal  thing  which  has  contributed  in  some 
degree  to  influence  the  prospect  and  the  labors  of  the 
miners,  is  the  government  tax  upon  the  foreigners 
who  wish  to  work  upon  the  public  lands  in  digging 
and  washing  gold.  The  tax  is  certainly  a  just  one, 


19 


262  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

but  many  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  .too  high.  A  lighter 
tax  would  more  readily  receive  the  assent  of  the  mass 
of  foreigners ;  but  whether  it  is  not  just  that  they 
should  pay  a  tax  of  eight  dollars  for  every  ounce  of 
of  gold  they  ohtain  from  the  land  of  others,  is  another 
question.  The  greater  portion  of  the  gold  region 
belongs  to  the  government,  and  was  paid  for  by  the 
government.  The  people  of  the  United  States  should, 
therefore,  have  the  sole  right  to  occupy  it ;  and  it  is 
but  just,  that  those  people  of  foreign  nations  who  wish 
to  reap  a  profit  from  it  either  by  digging  gold  or  culti 
vating  the  ground,  should  pay  for  the  use  of  it.  The 
effect  of  the  tax  is,  that  those  who  must  pay  it,  either 
must  give  up  mining  or  work  harder  to  reap  sufficient 
profit.  In  either  case,  the  country  is  benefited. 

The  mining  region  is  constantly  increasing  in  ex 
tent.  The  placers  first  worked  still  yield  a  profit  suffi 
cient  to  reward  the  gold  seeker  for  his  labor,  and  the 
frequent  discovery  of  new  ones  by  parties  prospect 
ing,  keeps  up  the  heat  of  excitement.  The  region  is 
constantly  extending  towards  the  north.  The  vicinity 
of  Trinity  River  is  the  most  northern  part  of  Cali 
fornia  where  gold  is  obtained  in  any  considerable 
quantity,  and  the  source  of  the  San  Joaquin,  is  the 
most  southern.  The  entire  region  embraced  between 
these  two  points  is  known  to  abound  in  the  precious 
metal,  and  is  traversed  by  the  gold  "  prospectors." 
Of  the  gold  obtained,  a  great  quantity — a  third,  at 
least,  remains  in  the  country.  Another  is  carried 
out  of  California  by  the  foreigners,  and  the  remainder 
is  sent  to  the  Atlantic  States  of  the  Union.  This  is 
but  a  rough  estimate ;  but  it  seems  warranted  by  the 
facts  of  the  number  of  foreigners  in  the  country,  and 
the  necessary  current  money  of  the  residents.  Cer- 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA.  263 

tain  it  is,  that  were  we  to  judge  of  the  quantity  of 
gold  obtained  in  California,  by  the  amount  received 
in  the  United  Spates,  we  would  fall  far  too  short  of 
the  truth. 

The  growth  of  the  commerce  of  California  neces 
sarily  carries  with  it  the  growth  of  all  those  cities 
and  towns  which  have  any  commercial  advantages, 
or  which  are  connected  with  the  various  ports.  Not 
only  has  San  Francisco  constantly  in  her  harbor  a 
tremendous  fleet  of  merchant  vessels  from  all  parts  of 
the  world,  pouring  into  her  lap  the  commodities  neces 
sary  to  a  new  country  and  a  rapid  building  city,  and 
Sacramento,  the  commerce  of  the  mines  continually 
passing  through  it,  but  all  the  towns  along  the  coast  have 
felt  the  impulse,  and  have  become  the  seat  of  a  traffic 
of  some  sort.  San  Diego,  Santa  Barbara,  San  Pedro, 
and  Monterey,  are  all  commercial  ports,  which  havo 
become  the  resort  of  those  traders  who  wish  to 
escape  the  crowd  of  competitors  to  be  met  with  at  the 
more  northern  towns,  and  to  have  a  pleasant  place 
of  residence  besides.  Los  Angeles,  twenty-five  miles 
from  the  port  of  San  Pedro  is  the  centre  of  an  ex 
tensive  inland  trade,  and  from  its  being  a  delightful 
place  of  residence,  will  .contribute  to  the  building  up 
of  San  Pedro  in  a  greater  degree  than  the  commerce 
of  San  Pedro  can  influence  it. 

At  present,  San  Francisco  is  a  city  of  about  thirty 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  in  spite  of  the  repeated 
visitations  of  the  calamity  of  destructive  fire,  it  has 
suffered  no  stoppage  in  its  rapid  progress.  On  the 
contrary,  these  fires  seem  to  give  a  new  impulse  to  the 
energy  and  enterprise  of  its  inhabitants,  and,  by  im 
pressing  upon  them  the  utility  of  building  their  houses 
and  stores  of  the  more  substantial  brick,  to  have 


264  HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 

been  of  permanent  benefit.  Like  the  water  of  a 
rapid  river,  which,  meeting  with  a  serious  obstacle  in 
its  course,  is  checked  for  the  moment  and  then,  having 
gathered  new  strength,  surmounts  the  barrier  and 
springs  forward  with  renewed  energy,  San  Francisco 
has  pursued  her  course.  The  late  fire,  decidedly  the 
most  disastrous  the  new  city  has  experienced,  produced 
for  awhile  a  general  stand  in  business.  But  the  go- 
aheadative  principle  was  too  strong  for  a  continuance 
of  a  stagnation ;  and  all  the  sufferers  -set  about  doing 
their  utmost  to  retrieve  their  fortunes.  Success  must 
wait  upon  such  persevering  energy. 

Sacramento  City  is  fast  treading  upon  the  heels  of 
her  commercial  sister  city.  Improvements  are  con 
stantly  being  made  to  the  appearance  of  the  city  and 
the  comfort  of  its  inhabitants.  A  levee  is  in  course 
of  construction,  which,  it  is  thought,  will  effectually 
protect  the  city  from  being  flooded  during  the  season 
of  the  rise  of  the  river.  The  overland  emigration 
of  which  Sacramento  is  the  goal,  contributes  to  swell 
the  population  rapidly ;  and,  during  the  rainy  season, 
the  greater  portion  of  the  population  of  the  northern 
mines  flock  into  the  city  for  refuge  till  the  digging 
Beason  commences. 

Stockton,  Benicia,  San  Josd,  and  Sutter  are  each 
increasing  the  number  of  their  residents  and  their 
trade  very  fast.  The  first  is  the  depot  of  the  south 
ern  mines ;  the  second,  the  military  and  naval  station, 
chosen  by  the  government  officers ;  the  third  is  the 
capital  of  the  State  ;  the  last  is  a  thriving  town,  near 
Sacramento,  but  in  a  better  situation. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  California 
is  the  number  of  the  missions  in  various  parts  of  the 
State.  They  are  and  will  continue  to  be  interesting, 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


265 


because  of  their  age,  and  the  self-denying  and  ener 
getic  labors  with  which  they  are  connected.  They 
were  the  centres,  established  by  a  few  Catholic  priests, 
from  which  the  rays  of  enlightenment  and  civilized 
enjoyment  were  spread  to  the  native  Indians  of  Cali 
fornia.  Each  mission  was  a  little  principality,  with 
many  leagues  of  land  attached,  with  some  thousand 
head  of  cattle,  and  all  the  neighboring  Indians  sub 
ject  to  the  control  of  the  padre,  and  cultivating  the 
land  for  their  own  and  the  padre's  benefit.  In  1800, 
these  missions  were  sixteen  in  number,  and  three  only 
have  been  added  since  that  time.  They  are  named 
and  located  as  follows  : — San  Rafael  and  San  Fran 
cisco  Solano,  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay ;  Dolores, 
near  San  Francisco ;  Santa  Clara  and  San  Jose', 
near  Pueblo  San  Josd ;  San  Juan,  Santa  Cruz  and 
Carmel,  near  Monterey ;  Soledad,  San  Antonio,  and 
San  Miguel,  in  the  valley  of  Salina  River ;  San  Luis 
Obispo,  La  Purisima,  Santa  Ynez,  Santa  Barbara,  and 
San  Buenaventura,  near  Santa  Barbara  ;  San  Gabriel 
and  San  Fernando,  near  Los  Angeles ;  and  San  Luis 
Rey,  San  Juan  Capistrano  and  San  Diego,  on  the 
coast,  south  of  Los  Angeles. 

The  wealth  and  power  of  these  missions  have  fled, 
and  they  are  all,  more  or  less,  in  a  state  of  decay. 
The  Indians  who  were  prospering  under  the  care  of 
the  priests  have  either  taken  refuge  in  the  mountains 
or  linger  about  the  old  mission  buildings,  in  a  de 
graded  and  ignorant  state.  The  immense  quantity 
of  land  which  was  once  attached  to  them  has  been 
taken  from  them  from  time  to  time,  and  now  they  but 
seem  the  ruins  of  former  greatness.  The  beauty  of 
the  country  surrounding  those  of  the  missions  which 
are  still  existing,  and  the  picturesque  appearance  of 
23 


266  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

those  which  are  in  ruins  make  them  well  worthy  a 
visit  to  the  lover  of  the  antiquated. 

The  usual  attendant  of  the  American  enterprise, 
the  printing  press,  has  found  its  way  to  California,  to 
contribute  to  the  information  and  convenience  of  the 
people.  Several  papers  are  in  extensive  circulation 
in  the  cities  and  towns,  and  projects  for  others  have 
been  formed.  The  principal  are  the  Alia  Oalifornian, 
the  Pacific  News,  the  Courier,  and  the  Placer  Times. 
The  three  first  are  published  in  San  Francisco,  and 
the  last  at  Sacramento. 

The  want  of  facilities  for  transportation  must  be 
severely  felt  in  the  interior  settlements  of  California. 
Steam  vessels  of  the  swiftest  and  most  commodious 
character  are  the  means  of  easy  communication  and 
transportation  between  San  Francisco  and  the  towns 
on  Suisan  Bay  and  the  Sacramento,  as  far  as  Sacra 
mento  City.  Communication  by  the  same  means  will 
doubtless,  soon  be  established  between  the  different 
ports  on  the  coast.  But  railroads  and  canals  are 
requisites  for  increasing  the  social  communication  and 
drawing  the  people  of  all  parts  of  the  State  more 
closely  together.  These,  however,  will  not  be  long  in 
demand,  after  the  State  has  been  admitted  into  the 
Union.  The  companies  for  such  purposes  will  feel 
secure  in  their  charter,  and  receive  assistance  from 
the  government.  There  is  nothing  more  efficacious 
in  binding  a  people  together  and  maintaining  peace 
and  harmony  of  action,  than  the  mechanical  facility  of 
communication.  The  Atlantic  States  of  the  Union 
afford  plentiful  illustration  and  evidence  of  this  asser 
tion.  Mark  the  differences  of  habit  and  sentiment  in 
those  States,  where  the  means  of  intercourse  between 
the  inhabitants  are  comparatively  few  and  far  between. 


QISTOEY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


267 


The  interests  of  the  different  sections  of  a  large  State 
are  of  course,  dissimilar,  and  produce  the  widest 
separation  of  feeling  and  opinion,  which  cannot  be 
harmonized  without  the  facilities  of  intercourse  afford 
ed  by  railroads  and  canals.  In  no  State  are  there 
greater  means  of  communication  between  the  people 
of  the  different  sections,  than  in  Massachusetts ;  and 
in  no  State  is  there  a  more  harmonious  action  in  the 
Legislative  department  of  the  government.  Let  the 
railroads  and  canals  be  so  constructed  in  California 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  the  effect  will  be  the  same. 

We  have  elsewhere  mentioned  and  characterized  the 
different  harbors  of  California.  There  has  been  one 
other  surveyed  and  pronounced  excellent,  and  the 
beginning  of  a  town  made  upon  its  shores.  This  is 
called  Humboldt,  after  the  distinguished  traveller.  It 
is  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  north  of 
San  Francisco.  The  river  formerly  called  Pigeon,  but 
now  Trinity,  empties  into  it.  The  harbor  is  sheltered 
from  the  south-west  winds,  but  is  exposed  to  the  north 
west.  The  north-west  winds  prevail  from  November 
till  March,  and  are  severe ;  but  the  south-west  winds 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  are  violent,  and  the 
harbor  that  is  sheltered  from  them  is  considered  a 
good  one. 

The  Indians  who  inhabit  a  large  portion  of  Califor 
nia,  have  been,  and  will  be,  the  subject  of  considerable 
trouble  to  the  white  residents.  It  is  a  matter  of  the 
first  importance  for  their  safety,  and  that  of  the 
Indians  themselves,  that  agents  should  be  sent  among 
them,  with  power  to  negotiate  and  settle  all  claims 
made  by  them  and  disputes  arising  between  them  and 
the  whites,  else,  a  destructive  war  will  be  the  con 
sequence.  They  should  be  induced  to  relinquish  their 


268  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

claims  to  the  soil  of  California  as  far  as  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  and  receive  due  compensation  therefor.  But 
for  the  want  of  properly  constituted  agents  from  the 
government,  they  have  been  either  driven  from  their 
old  haunts  by  the  mountaineers  and  other  settlers,  or 
remain  amongst  the  whites  to  be  a  constant  source  of 
trouble.  The  Shosonees,  or  Snakes,  are  the  most 
numerous  tribe  to  be  found  within  the  limits  of  the 
State,  but  there  are  others  which  are  more  warlike  and 
untameable.  They  have  all  suffered  considerably  from 
the  aggressions  of  the  white  emigrants,  and  their 
attacks  upon  individuals  and  parties  are  but  the 
promptings  of  revenge,  which  should  be  taken  into 
consideration.  Lately,  a  war  of  extermination  against 
the  whole  number  of  certain  tribes  was  commenced  on 
account  of  the  doings  of  one  or  two  of  them.  Few  of 
them  are  provided  with  better  weapons  than  bows  and 
arrows,  and,  of  course,  they  can  make  but  a  poor 
resistance  to  the  rifles  of  the  white  men.  In  illustra 
tion  of  the  treatment  of  the  Indians,  we  quote  an 
account  of  the  doings  of  a  war  party  against  them, 
described  in  the  work  of  a  California  tourist : — 

"  A  few  days  before  our  arrival  in  the  mines,  five 
men  from  Oregon,  named  Robinson,  Thompson, 
English,  Johnson,  and  Wood,  were  murdered  by  Indians 
while  engaged  in  gold  digging.  Having  but  one  rifle, 
they  imprudently  left  it  in  their  tent.  This  the  Indians 
some  thirty  or  forty  in  number,  first  secured,  and  then 
commenced  their  attack  with  bows  and  arrows.  The 
Oregonians  defended  themselves  some  time,  repeatedly 
driving  the  Indians  with  no  other  weapons  than  the 
stones  they  found  on  the  bar  where  they  were  at  work, 
but  upon  reaching  the  edge  of  the  lary  they  were  each 
time  obliged  again  to  retreat.  At  length  three  of 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


269 


them,  stuck  full  of  arrows,  were  exhausted  with  loss  of 
blood  and  overcome  ;  while  the  other  two  attempted 
to  escape  by  crossing  the  fork,  one  succeeding  in 
reaching  the  other  side,  but  both  finally  meeting  the 
fate  of  the  others.  One  of  the  warriors  of  the  tribe 
who  participated  in  these  murders  was  afterwards  taken 
prisoner,  and  furnishing  the  above  narration,  his  life 
was  spared  on  condition  that  he  should  guide  the 
whites  to  their  rancheria. 

"  Accordingly,  on  the  16th  of  April,  a  war  party 
was  made  up  of  about  twenty  young  mountaineers, 
mostly  Oregon  men,  and  including  also  the  young 
Greenwoods.  Well  mounted,  and  equipped  with  the 
enormous  gingling  California  spurs,  they  rode  up  to 
Old  Greenwood's  for  a  review  from  the  old  man  pre 
paratory  to  starting.  Each  man  carried  besides  his, 
inseparable  rifle,  a  long  Spanish  knife  usually  mounted 
with  silver,  and  stuck  in  the  folds  of  his  deerskin  leg 
gings  ;  and  many  were  also  provided  with  a  brace  of 
pistols  or  bowie  knife,  worn  in  the  red  Mexican  sash 
around  the  waist.  Old  Greenwood  shouted  '  Mind  the 
scalps  and  squaws  for  me,  and  be  sure  you  bring  'em 
all  in,  boys,'  and  away  they  went,  at  a  thundering 
lope,  eager  for  revenge." 

The  day  afterwards,  the  party  returned.  They 
were  preceded  by  a  party  of  Peruvians  and-  Chilians, 
with  a  number  of  their  peones,  or  slaves. 

"  Following  closely  this  motley  group,  came  on  foot 
a  body  of  about  sixty  California  Indians.  Warriors 
and  boys,  squaws  with  papooses  tied  on  boards  and 
slung  at  the  back,  all  were  prisoners.  Clustered  to 
gether  like  sheep  driven  to  the  slaughter,  they  hastened 
through  the  gorge  with  uncertain  steps,  the  perspira 
tion  rolling  off  their  faces  now  pale  with  fright.  Many 
23* 


270  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

of  them  were  quite  naked,  and  the  men  and  boys 
especially,  looked  more  like  ourang-outangs  than 
human  beings. 

"  In  flank  and  rear  rode  the  war  party,  which  had 
left  the  Culloma  Valley  two  days  previous.  Every 
man's  rifle  lay  across  the  pommel  of  his  saddle,  and 
dangling  at  both  sides  hung  several  reeking  scalps. 
Among  them  was  a  dashing  young  mountaineer  named 
John  Ross,  who  had  two  scalps  for  his  share,  and 
sticking  in  his  sash  was  the  red-sheathed  bowie  knife, 
which  the  writer  had  sold  him  a  few  days  previous  for 
an  ounce  of  gold  dust.  Used  previously  to  sever  the 
rinds  of  pork,  or  shovel  in  rice  and  frijoles,  it  had  now 
been  '  wool  gathering'  or  collecting  wigs  for  old  Green 
wood's  fancy  stores. 

"'Well  done,  boys,"  shouted  Grover,  'you  have 
given  it  to  them  this  time ;  now,  what's  the  news  ?' 
In  reply  to  this  inquiry,  we  learned  that  the  captured 
Indian  had  led  them  the  night  before  according  to 
promise,  to  their  raricheria,  on  Weber's  Creek,  where 
some  of  them  showing  fight  and  others  attempting 
escape,  they  were  fired  upon  and  some  twenty  to  thirty 
were  killed.  Their  chief  fought  until  shot  the  third 
time,  rising  each  time  to  his  knees  and  discharging 
his  arrows,  Ross  finally  killing,  cutting  off  his  head 
and  scalping  him.  Their  rancheria  was  then  searched 
and  burned  ;  the  Indians  delivering  up  the  papers  of 
the  Oregon  men,  obtained  at  the  time  of  their  murder, 
and  confessing  that  they  had  afterwards  burned  their 
bodies  to  ashes  on  the  mountains. 

^  The  subsequent  facts  were  related  to  the  writer 
by  his  highly  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Donald  Grant,  a 
native  of  bonnie  Scotland,  who  was  one  of  our  party 
to  the  mines,  and  an  eye  witness  to  the  scene ;  not 


HISTORY   OE   CALIFORNIA. 


271 


having  left  on  his  return  to  San  Francisco  till  the 
following  day. 

"  Arriving  in  the  Culloma  valley  with  their  prison 
ers,  the  mountaineers  and  miners  had  a  grand  revel 
and  jollification  to  celebrate  their  achievement.  During 
the  day  most  of  the  prisoners  were  released,  but  a  few 
squaws  and  seven  warriors  were  retained.  The  latter 
were  questioned  and  examined  relative  to  their  parti 
cipation  in  the  murder  of  the  Oregonians.  Nothing 
being  elicited  to  prove  their  guilt,  it  was  nevertheless 
determined  that  they  should  die ;  because  being  bad 
looking  and  strong  warriors,  it  was  believed  they  were 
participators  in  the  murders.  Accordingly  the  con 
sumption  of  champaigne  and  brandy  continued  till 
sunset.  At  that  hour  the  seven  Indians  were  brought 
forth,  and  knowing  well  their  fate,  one  of  them  put  up 
his  hand  as  a  signal,  and  all  leaped  along  the  valley 
in  rapid  flight.  Quick  as  thought  the  rifles  began  to 
crack  in  every  direction,  while  old  Greenwood  raving 
around  his  cabin  remonstrated  at  the  deed,  tossed  his 
arms  aloft  with  violent  denunciation ;  and  stooping 
down  gathered  the  dust  in  his  palms,  and  sprinkled  it 
on  his  head,  swearing  he  was  innocent  of  their  blood. 
Meantime,  John  Greenwood  stood  beside  the  old  man 
in  stoic  silence,  too  brave  to  participate  in  the  massacre, 
but  too  much  of  a  crow  to  utter  his  disapproval.  But 
frantic  with  excitement  the  others  thought  only  of 
revenge,  and  the  balls  whistling  in  every  direction  laid 
five  of  the  warriors  dead  in  the  valley  and  mortally 
wounding  another,  only  one  escaping  unscathed.  The 
dying  rays  of  the  sun  deserting  the  bloody  scene,  yet 
lingered  on  the  mountain  top,  and  the  smoke  of  the 
discharge  rolled  in  thick  volume,  like  a  pall  over  the 
corpses  of  the  slain,  while  that  solitary  warrior  turned 


272  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

from  his  distant  height,  to  gaze  after  his  companicns, 
a  moment  in  vain.  But  his  heart  quivered  with  ven 
geance,  and  the  thin  white  locks  of  the  old  man  in  the 
valley,  still  mingled  with  the  gray  twilight,  like  the 
sackcloth  and  ashes  of  despair. 

"  And  this  is  what  they  call  fighting  the  Indians ! 
A  few  days  before  only,  we  saw  a  young  mountaineer 
wild  with  rage,  threaten  the  life  of  an  American  who 
had  ventured  to  suggest,  that  the  murders  committed 
by  these  Indians  were  provoked  by  many  previous 
murders  by  the  whites,  and  that  they  should  be  avenged 
by  the  death  of  the  guilty  among  the  Indians,  and  not 
by  an  indiscriminate  slaughter." 

We  cannot  think  highly  of  the  civilization  of  the 
white  men  who  take  such  unmerciful  and  indiscriminate 
revenge  as  this.  Such  ar"e  not  the  means  to  gain  the 
Indians  over  to  a  peace.  Revenge  only  breeds  revenge ; 
and  those  who  commit  such  slaughter  in  retaliation 
for  the  murder  of  one  or  two  men  must  look  to  the 
consequences. 

The  great  body  of  the  travel  to  California  is  at 
present  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama ;  but  those 
who  intend  to  settle  permanently  in  the  State,  and 
who  will  increase  the  real  population  of  it,  take  the 
overland  route  from  Independence,  Missouri.  The 
shortest  and  best  route  for  commercial  purposes  will 
soon  be  opened  across  Nicaragua.  This  will  have 
many  advantages  over  the  old  Isthmus  route,  but  will 
not  cause  that  one  to  be  abandoned  altogether.  Chagres 
has  become  somewhat  Americanized,  and  so  have 
Gorgona,  Cruces,  and  Panama.  Travel  has  been  some 
what  facilitated  by  the  addition  of  American  boats  on 
the  Chagres  River,  and  the  provision  of  the  mountain 
mules  for  the  rough  road  to  Panama,  in  sufficient 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


273 


number  to  lower  the  price  of  travel  and  decrease  the 
delay. 

The  facilities  of  intercourse  between  California  and 
the  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  will  tend  to 
cement  her  to  the  Union  by  all  the  ties  of  trade  and 
mutual  interest.  The  people  of  that  State,  being  at 
so  great  a  distance  from  the  rest  of  the  States,  would 
seem  to  be  alien  to  them  in  interest,  and,  therefore, 
that  an  independent  government  would  contribute 
most  to  their  prosperity.  But  mechanical  influences 
— the  telegraph — the  railroad  and  the  steam  vessel — 
annihilate  distance,  and  will  be  the  means  of  attaching 
the  Californians  to  the  confederacy.  In  her  union 
with  the  other  States,  there  is  her  strength.  She  will 
add  much  to  their  wealth  and  power,  but  her  free 
institutions — entirely  American,  require  the  support 
of  the  confederacy  which  produced  them — at  least, 
until  the  State  has  reach.ed  her  maturity. 

What  will  be  the  future  California  is  a  question 
which  admits  of  a  ready  answer.  If  she  retains  her 
present  boundaries,  with  her  extensive  sea  coast,  and 
her  progress  bears  any  proportion  to  that  since  the 
conquest,  in  fifty  years — it  is  a  warranted  conclusion — 
the  State  will  surpass  any  of  those  upon  the  Atlantic 
coast.  For,  what  State  has  such  united  commercial 
facilities  and  vast  resources?  Where  are  such  in 
ternal  wealth  and  such  splendid  harbors  to  be  found 
united  ?  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  State  may 
be  divided,  after  the  population  has  reached  a  suffi 
cient  number.  It  is  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  present  Congress,  that  there  is  too  much 
sea  coast  for  one  State  to  possess,  and  that  has  been 
made  an  objection  to  her  admission  into  the  Union,  with 
her  present  boundaries.  But  it  is  of  little  weight  at 


274  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

this  time.  After  the  State  has  existed  a  few  years, 
the  utility  of  such  a  division  as  is  proposed  will  be 
manifest  or  disproved.  In  the  mean  time,  let  Cali 
fornia  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  her  people  have 
created  her,  and  then  she  will  have  every  thing  neces 
sary  for  her  to  go  on  in  the  fulfilment  of  a  glorious 
destiny. 

The  gold  discoveries  in  New  Mexico  and  Oregon 
will  have  but  a  slight  influence  on  California  affairs. 
Yet  for  that  slight  influence,  they  deserve  to  be  men 
tioned.  The  recent  discoveries -in  New  Mexico,  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  the  El  Dorado  of  the  early 
Spanish  voyagers  has  been  found,  and  nearly  in  the 
place  to  which  their  attention  was  directed  by  the 
Indians.  A  late  number  of  the  Houston  Telegraph, 


"  That  preparations  are  in  progress  in  all  parts  of 
the  State,  for  a  grand  expedition  to  the  gold  region 
that  has  been  discovered  in  New  Mexico,  not  far  from 
the  ruins  of  the  celebrated  city  of  Grand  Quivira. 
Gold  mines  have  been  found  all  along  the  great  chain 
of  mountains  extending  from  the  sources  of  the  Ar 
kansas  and  Platte  Rivers,  by  Santa  Fe,  to  the  Puerto. 
Immense  excavations  are  shown  along  the  feet  of  these 
mountains,  and  the  ruins  of  vast  cities  indicate  that 
these  mines  were  once  worked  by  millions  of  people. 
The  geographical  formations  of  this  region  are  so 
similar  to  those  of  the  gold  regions  of  California,  that 
they  appear  to  be  identical,  and  contain  similar  de 
posits  of  the  precious  metals.  These  facts  have 
been  made  known  throughout  Texas,  and  the  Tele 
graph  would  not  be  surprised  to  find  that  the  emi 
gration  to  the  gold  region  of  Texas,  in  the  ensuing 
autumn,  should  exceed  the  emigration  to  California. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


275 


The  "consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished"  has 
been  attained.  California  has  at  length  been  admitted 
to  take  her  place  as  a  star  of  the  confederated  repub 
lic.  The  bill  for  that  object  passed  the  House  of 
Representatives  on  the  7th  of  September,  1850,  by  a 
vote  of  yeas,  one  hundred  and  fifty,  nays  fifty-six.  It 
had  previously  passed  the  Senate  by  a  no  less  decisive 
majority.  The  announcement  of  the  passage  of  the 
bill  was  received  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm  by  its 
friends,  and  considerable  excitement  upon  the  part  of 
its  opponents.  The  most  constant  exertions  were 
made  by  members  from  the  Southern  States  to  defeat 
the  bill  by  adjournment  and  by  numerous  amendments, 
but  they  were  unavailing.  California  triumphed. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

A  DESCRIPTION  or  history  of  California  would 
scarcely  be  complete  without  some  account  of  the 
animal  and  vegetable  life,  native  to  the  country ;  and, 
happily,  the  information  upon  the  subject  is  copious 
and  accurate.  The  travels  and  the  observations  of 
Fremont,  Emory  and  others,  have  developed  com 
pletely  the  character  aud  extent  of  the  Californian 
vegetable  kingdom,  and  some  features  of  it,  particu 
larly  the  great  pine  forests,  have  been  the  theme  of 
general  admiration  among  the  tourists.  Respecting 
the  various  species  of  beast,  bird,  fish  and  reptile, 
that  belong  to  the  country,  we  have  not  so  full  or 


276 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


exact  information;  but  sufficient  to  make  the  subject 
interesting,  and  to  satisfy  the  desire  for  general  in 
formation.  We  shall  begin  with  the  animal  kingdom. 
The  Grisly  Bear,  Ursus  FeroXj  is  the  largest,  most 
formidable  and  most  ferocious  animal  in  the  country 
— and,  indeed,  in  North  America.  Numerous  and 
almost  incredible  stories  are  related  of  its  great 
strength  and  courage.  Specimens  are  to  be  met  with 
measuring  four  feet  in  height,  and  weighing  from  five 
hundred  to  one  thousand  pounds.  Unlike  the  other 
kinds  of  bear,  this  species  never  climbs  trees.  His 
habits  are  solitary,  and  although  a  terrible  foe  to 
meet,  he  seldom  becomes  the  aggressor  against  man. 
When  his  favorite  flesh  is  not  to  be  obtained,  he  will 
eat  vermin,  berries,  and  roots,  in  digging  for  which 
he  frequently  overturns  fallen  timber  which  a  yoke  of 
oxen  could  scarcely  move.  On  account  of  the  irnper- 


BLACK   BEAR. 


fection  of  their  weapons,  the  Indians  seldom  venture 
to  attack  this  animal ;  and  whenever  one  is  killed  by 
them,  the  occasion  becomes  a  matter  of  great  rejoic 
ing,  and  the  fortunate  victor  becomes  a  man  of  conse- 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


277 


quence  at  once.  The  flesh  of  the  grisly  bear  is  by 
no  means  food  to  be  despised,  and  the  skin  forms  a 
comfortable  couch  for  the  hunter. 

Besides  the  Grisly  Bear,  there  are  other  species  of 
the  bear  race  to  be  found  in  California.  The  common 
Black  Bear  is  two  well  known  to  need  a  description. 
The  American  barren  ground  bear,  is  of  a  lighter 
color  than  the  common  bear,  and  in  its  habits,  espe 
cially  in  regard  to  its  food,  it  resembles,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  brown  bear  of  Norway.  It  feeds  princi 
pally  upon  fish.  The  great  Polar  Bear  often  makes 
his  appearance  on  the  extreme  northern  coast  of  Cali 
fornia,  but  cannot  be  considered  as  a  California  animal. 


POLAR   BEAR. 

The  Glutton,  or  Wolverine,  which  partakes  of  the 
nature  of  the  bear,  the  fox,  and  the  weasel,  is  well 
known  to  the  beaver  trappers,  by  the  constant  annoy 
ance  to  which  it  subjects  them,  in  devouring  their 
baits,  and  destroying  their  traps.  It  is  a  savage, 
sullen  creature,  and  though  not  formidable  to  man,  it 
preys  upon  small  animals,  and  even  the  deer.  Stories 
are  frequently  told  of  the  manner  in  which  the  wolve 
rine  entraps  the  deer,  and  makes  them  his  prey — by 
24 


278  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

climbing  to  a  branch  of  a  tree,  and  letting  down 
moss,  upon  which  the  victim  comes  to  feed,  and  is  im 
mediately  mounted  by  the  Glutton,  which  never  ceases 
its  hold  until  the  lacerated  deer  falls  to  the  ground. 


THE  WOLF. 

Several  species  of  Wolf  are  found  in  California, 
and  in  some  parts  they  are  very  numerous.  The 
Common  Wolf,  the  Gray  Wolf,  Dusky  Wolf,  Black 
Wolf,  and  the  Prairie  Wolf  all  abound  in  different 
portions  of  the  country. 

Of  Foxes,  the  most  common  is  the  American  Red 
Fox  (Canis  Fulvus).  The  Red  Fox  has  a  much  finer 
brush  than  the  European,  and  is  altogether  a  larger 
animal.  The  fur  of  the  body  is  full,  long,  soft,  and 
of  a  bright  rufous  brown ;  the  skin  is  therefore  valued 
as  an  article  of  trade,  and  about  eight  thousand  are 
annually  imported  into  England  from  the  fur  coun 
tries,  where  the  animal  is  very  abundant,  especially 
in  the  wooded  parts.  It  is  not,  however,  confined 
to  the  colder  latitudes ;  its  range,  in  fact,  extends 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  United  States.  In  habits 
and  manners  the  Red  Fox  agrees  with  our  common 
Reynard,  but  possesses  neither  the  same  wind  nor  the 
same  vigor  and  power  of  endurance. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


279 


"  It   runs,"    says   Dr.  Richardson,    "  for  about  a 
hundred  yards  with  a  great  swiftness,  but  its  strength 
is  exhausted  in  the  first  burst,  and  it  is  soon  overtaken 
by  a  wolf  or  a  mounted  huntsman."    Foxes  of  various 
gradations  of  color,  termed  Cross  Foxes,  are  common 
in  the  fur  countries  of  North  America.     These  are 
considered  by  Dr.  Richardson,  and  most  naturalists, 
to  be  varieties  of  the  Red  Fox,  and  such  is  the  opinion 
of  the  native  hunters,  than  whom  none  are  more  like 
ly  to  possess  accurate  knowledge  on  such  points.    The 
ordinary  Cross  Fox  is  distinguished  by  a  gray  far 
mingled  with  black,  which  latter  color  prevails  over 
the  shoulders.     A  rarer  and  more  valuable  variety  is 
the  Black  or  Silver  Fox  (Oanis  Fulvus,  var.  argen- 
tatus).     Dr.  Richardson  states  that  seldom  more  than 
four  or  five  of  this  variety  are  taken  in  a  season  at 
one  post,  though  the  hunters  no  sooner  find  out  the 
haunts  of  one  than  they  use   every  art  to  catch  it, 
because  its  fur  fetches  six  times  the  price  of  any  other 
fur  produced  in  North  America.     This  fox  is  some 
times  found  of  a  rich,  deep,  glossy  black,  the  tip  of 
the  tail  alone  being  white ;  in  general,  however,  it  is 
silvered  over  ("  sable  silvered  "),  the  end  of  each  of 
the  long  hairs  of  the  fur  being  white,  producing  a 
beautiful  appearance. 

The  Racoon  (Procyon  Lotor)  is  found  in  California. 
As  this  animal,  though  often  mentioned,  is  not  often 
seen,  we  will  describe  its  habits.  In  size,  and  in  the 
colors  of  its  fur,  it  bears  some  resemblance  to  the 
foxes,  but  this  resemblance  does  not  extend  far ;  the 
hairs  are  white  in  the  middle,  and  black  at  the  roots 
and  the  points,  which  produces  a  kind  of  gray  re 
sembling  that  which  covers  what  are  called  the  black 
and  silver  foxes ;  the  tail  is  deep  russet,  surrounded 


280  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

by  four  or  five  rings  of  black ;  the  under  parts  of  the 
body  are  whitish,  and  so  are  the  feet  and  the  face, 
with  the  exception  of  a  black  band,  which  begins  near 
the  eye,  and  extends  down  the  side  of  the  neck ;  the 
claws  have  more  the  character  of  digging  than  of  pre 
hensile  claws  ;  the  soles  of  the  feet  are  furnished  with 
five  elastic  tubercles  upon  each,  one  near  the  heel, 
one  at  the  base  of  the  thumb  of  the  first  toe  and  of 
the  last  toe,  and  the  remaining  one  between  the  basis 
of  the  two  middle  ones,  which  toes  are  longer  than 
any  of  the  others  ;  notwithstanding  that  it  is  partially 
digitigrade,  and  does  not  apply  the  whole  length  of 
the  foot  at  every  plant,  the  racoon  is  rather  a  clumsy 
walker,  and  their  gait  may  be  described  as  being 
heavy  compared  with  the  true  digitigrade  animals, 
though  it  is  light  as  compared  with  that  of  the  bears. 
They  can  readily  stand  erect  on  their  hind  feet,  and 
lay  hold  with  their  fore  ones ;  but  this  operation  of 
grasping  is  not  performed  by  the  contracting  of  one 
paw,  but  by  pressing  both  together.  They  do  not 
possess  the  same  pliability  in  the  internal  part  of  the 
fingers  as  the  quadrumana,  but,  by  clasping  both 
paws  together,  they  can,  by  this  means,  carry  their 
food  to  their  mouth.  The  animals  have  a  habit  of 
plunging  their  food  in  water,  and  then  rolling  it  be 
tween  their  paws,  before  they  devour  it.  Their  sight 
is  very  delicate,  and  they  have  great  difficulty  in 
distinguishing  objects  in  the  bright  sunshine,  or  any 
other  strong  light.  In  the  daytime  they  generally 
remain  inactive,  seated  on  their  posteriors,  with  the 
head  reclining  between  the  thighs,  thus  presenting 
the  appearance  of  a  ball;  but,  in  the  night,  they 
evince  considerable  activity  in  roaming  abroad  in 
quest  of  their  food,  which  consists  of  worms,  insects, 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA.  281 

fruits,  and  the  roots  of  plants.  They  move  about  in 
all  directions  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  searching 
the  most  minute  and  unfrequented  holes  and  corners 
in  quest  of  these ;  and  they  also  climb  trees  with  great 
dexterity,  for  the  purpose,  no  doubt,  of  robbing  and 
plundering  the  nests  of  birds.  They  are  particularly 
fond  of  drinking  water,  which  they  do  by  sucking  it 
up  into  the  mouth,  and  there  is  no  necessary  of  life 
on  which  they  seem  to  set  greater  value,  or  to  relish 
more.  They  are  said  to  frequent  the  banks  of  rivers 
and  the  sea-shore,  for  the  purpose  of  catching  mol- 
lusca  and  fishes,  which  are  their  most  favourite  food. 
They  are  very  delicate  in  the  sense  of  smelling,  but 
their  organs  of  hearing  are  very  imperfect.  Their 
appearance  resembles  the  bears  more  than  any  other 
of  the  carnassiers.  Their  generally  fat  condition  of 
body,  together  with  the  thickness  of  fur  with  which 
they  are  clothed,  gives  them  a  clumsy  rotundity  of 
form.  They  have  an  extremely  tufted  tail,  but  it 
does  not  appear  to  be  employed  for  any  particular 
purpose  in  the  economy  of  the  animal.  They  are  by 
no  means  difficult  to  tame — soon  become  familiar — 
and  seem  to  court  caresses ;  but  they  do  not  seem  to 
possess  the  quality  of  attachment  to  their  master,  or 
the  docility  to  obey  his  commands.  In  order  to  pre 
vent  them  from  escaping,  it  is  necessary  to  keep  them 
chained  up ;  for,  though  captivity  softens  their  nature 
to  a  considerable  extent,  they  never  seem  to  yield  up 
that  spirit  of  independence  which  they  possess  in  the 
wild  state. 

The  American  Badger  (Meles  Salvadoirce)  is  found 
in  the  northern  part  of  California.  It  burrows  in  the 
sand  and  is  particularly  strong  in  the  fore-feet.  It  is 


282 


HIBTOBY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


different  in  aspect  and  habits  from  the  Badger  of 
Europe. 


THE   BADGEK. 

The  Common  Weasel  (Mustela  Vulgaris)  and  the 
Ermine  (Mustela  Erminia)  are  both  common  in  Cali 
fornia,  as  also  the  Mink  (Mustela  Vison),  the  Marten 
(Mustela  Maries),  and  the  Skunk,  (Mephitis  Ameri 
cana).  They  are  well,  though  not  very  agreeably 
known,  in  all  parts  of  the  American  continent. 


THE    SKUNK. 


Among  the  animals  of  the  cat  kind  found  in 
California,  are  the  Northern  Lynx  (Felis  Canadensis), 
Branded  Lynx  (Felis  fasciata\  Red  Lynx  (Felis 
rufa)  and  the  Puma,  or  (Cougar  Felis  concolor);  often 
called  by  the  inhabitants,  says  Farnham,  the  lion. 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 


283 


THE   PUMA. 

The  Puma  is  found  both  in  South  and  in  North 
America,  probably  with  some  varieties  of  color ;  and 
if  we  are  to  credit  some  of  the  anecdotes  which  are 
related  of  it,  we  should  be  apt  to  consider  it  as  a 
more  formidable  animal  in  the  colder  latitudes  than  in 
the  warmer.  This  is  certainly  contrary  to  the  natural 
analogies  of  the  genus ;  and  some  of  the  anecdotes 
are,  besides,  such  as  cannot  easily  be  brought  within 
the  range  even  of  possibility.  It  has,  for  instance, 
been  gravely  said,  that  the  Puma  has  been  known  to 
carry  the  body  of  a  man  that  it  had  killed  up  into  a 
tree.  Now,  in  the  first  place,  it  has  not  been  very 
satisfactorily  ascertained  that  the  Puma  is  a  climber 
of  trees,  even  when  it  is  not  loaded ;  in  the  second 
place,  if  this  were  ascertained,  it  would  be  an  argu 
ment  against  the  killing  of  man,  for  the  tree-cats  are 
chiefly  catchers  of  birds,  squirrels,  and  monkeys ; 
and,  in  the  third  place,  notwithstanding  all  the  mar 
vels  that  have  been  told  of  lions  and  tigers,  there  is 
no  feat  at  all  comparable  with  this  told  of  either  of 
them.  We  have  heard  a  similar  story  of  a  common 
brown  bear  carrying  the  body  of  a  horse  along  a 
single  tree  which  lay  across  a  wide  and  deep  ravine, 
in  the  Scandinavian  forests,  but  we  never  supposed 
that  the  tale  was  meant  to  be  believed,  and  the  feel- 


284  HISTORY    OP   CALIFORNIA. 

ing  with  regard  to  this  feat  of  the  Puma  is  much  of 
the  same  kind. 

The  more  prohable  accounts  represent  the  Puma  as 
attacking  only  the  weaker  animals,  and  as  hoarding 
or  burying  its  food ;  and  pumas,  when  tamed,  can  be 
made  to  play  with  substances  in  the  same  way  as 
young  cats,  only  they  are  more  indolent,  and  their 
motions  not  so  graceful.  It  is  well  ascertained  that 
the  Puma  is  very  easily  tamed,  and  that,  if  it  is  fed, 
it  shows  not  the  least  disposition  to  attack  any  animal, 
but  shows  considerable  affection  for  those  who  are  at 
tentive  to  it.  Its  general  manners  are  more  like  those 
of  the  domestic  cat  than,  perhaps,  any  others  of  the 
genus,  more  so  even  than  the  wild  cat  of  Europe, 
which  is  often,  though  it  would  seem  erroneously,  con 
sidered  as  the  parent  stock  of  the  domestic.  The 
Puma  watches  for  birds  in  the  same  manner,  and  with 
the  same  action  of  the  body,  as  the  domestic  cat,  and 
like  that  animal,  it  purrs  when  caressed. 

Mr.  Farnham  says,  that  on  the  Sacramento  and 
San  Joaquin  Rivers,  as  well  as  on  many  parts  of  the 
coast,  the  common  plain  Seal,  (Phoca  Vitellina)  is 
found,  and  on  the  same  rivers  the  Musk  Rat  (Fiber 
ZibetTiicus)  is  often  met  with. 

The  Beaver  (Oastor  Fiber),  ijS  another  of  the  Cali- 
fornian  animals,  which  is  much  sought  on  account 
of  the  value  of  its  fur. 

In  an  economical  point  of  view,  the  Beaver  is  a 
very  valuable  animal.  The  fur  is  more  glossy  and 
beautiful  than  almost  any  other  of  the  same  fineness : 
it  takes  a  rich  black  color,  without  having  its  gloss 
in  the  least  destroyed ;  it  wears  well,  and  is  not  much 
subject  to  injury  from  rain ;  and  it  very  readily  unites 
into  a  strong,  though  light  and  flexible  fabric,  by  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


285 


THE   BEAVER. 

operation  called  felting.  Hats  are  put  together  by 
that  operation,  unless  very  inferior  ones,  in  which 
glue  is  applied  in  supplement,  which  of  course  spots 
the  hat,  and  refreshes  with  its  unctuous  droppings 
the  head  of  the  wearer  during  rain ;  and  the  fur  of 
the  beaver  has  those  qualities  which  render  a  much 
better  material  for  hats  than  any  other  which  is 
known.  Accordingly  it  was  very  early  used  for  this 
purpose;  and  so  exclusively  used,  when  hats  were 
fewer  and  beavers  more  numerous,  that  both  the 
English  and  the  Latin  name  of  the  animal  became 
synonymous  for  the  article  of  dress.  At  one  period  it 
was  deemed  necessary  to  enact  statutes  for  prevent 
ing  the  admixture  of  any  other  material  with  the  fur 
of  beavers  in  the  manufacture  of  hats ;  and  at  that 
time  the  hat  outlasted  the  wearer,  and  could  be 
washed  in  the  same  manner  as  a  piece  of  woollen 
cloth ;  but  in  more  modern  times,  owing  partly  to  the 
great  decrease  in  the  number  of  beavers,  and  partly 
to  the  increased  demand  for  hats,  the  article  is  so  ex 
pensive  that  no  hat  is  made  entirely  of  beaver.  The 
body  is  formed  of  wool,  and  that  is  plated  over  with 
beaver,  which  is  worked  fully  through  the  body,  or 
"  felt,"  in  good  hats,  but  only  very  partially  in  infe- 


286  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

rior  ones.  A  shower  takes  the  beaver  off  the  latter ; 
and  it  is  not  very  long  in  wearing  bare,  and  showing 
the  felt  in  the  former. 

The  skin  of  the  beaver  is  also  used  in  the  manu 
facture  of  gloves,  and  sometimes  in  that  of  shoes, 
though  in  the  latter  case  the  shoe,  like  the  bad  hat, 
requires  a  little  glue  to  make  it  saleable.  Even  the 
gloves  are  of  very  inferior  quality,  as  the  skin  is 
thick  and  very  rough  and  loose  in  the  texture ;  so  that 
if  it  were  not  for  the  fur,  the  Beavers  would  not  be  de 
prived  of  their  lives  for  the  sake  of  their  skins. 

There  is  another  part  of  the  beaver  which  is  used 
in  medicine,  though  not  so  largely  at  present  as  for 
merly.  It  is  a  peculiarly  unctuous  product,  secreted 
by  a  follicle  immediately  under  the  tail  of  the  animal. 
It  has  a  very  disagreeable  smell,  and  nauseous  taste, 
but  it  was  once  in  high  request  as  an  antispasmodic, 
and  also  as  producing  an  important  and  specific 
action  on  the  uterine  system.  It  is  still  retained  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  under  the  name  of  castoreum,  or 
castor.  It  is  not  our  province  to  examine  its  virtues 
as  a  drug;  but  we  may  observe  that  it  was  introduced 
into  medicine  at  a  time  when  nostrums  were  held  as 
being  beneficial,  very  much  in  proportion  as  they 
were  nasty ;  and  to  what  extent  this  may  be  the  case 
still,  is  also  without  our  province. 

In  consequence  of  these  uses  in  the  arts,  the  Beaver 
has  been  hunted  with  great  assiduity  ;  and  some  idea 
of  the  total  quantity  killed  in  all  parts  which  Beavers 
inhabit  may  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that,  in  the 
year  1808,  there  were  126,927  taken  to  England, 
from  Canada  alone. 

Many  stratagems  are  resorted  to  for  the  capture 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


287 


of  an  animal  so  much  in  request,  but  we  shall  notice 
these  very  briefly. 

The  skin  of  the  cub-beaver  is  more  highly  prized 
than  that  of  older  animals,  as  being  darker  and  more 
glossy ;  the  winter  season  is  preferred  for  capturing 
them,  on  account  of  the  superiority  of  their  coat  at 
that  time.  There  are  various  means  employed  in 
taking  them.  One  of  the  ways  in  which  they  are 
captured  is,  by  boring  a  number  of  holes  in  the  ice, 
when  they  are  driven  from  their  habitations,  which 
are  then  destroyed.  They  remain  under  water  a 
short  time  (as  they  are  incapable  of  remaining  in 
that  element  for  any  very  protracted  period,)  then  by 
rising  to  the  surface  where  the  ice  is  broken,  they  are 
easily  taken.  At  these  times  many  of  them  retreat 
to  the  holes  in  the  banks,  where  they  lodge  in  sum 
mer  ;  but  these  vaults  are  soon  discovered  by  expe 
rienced  hunters,  by  striking  on  the  ice  with  chisels, 
and  they  select  such  spots  for  their  openings  as  they 
know  will  readily  lead  to  the  capture  of  their  victims, 
and  they  are  seldom  mistaken.  Another  way  in 
which  they  are  taken  is,  to  cut  the  ice  both  above 
and  below  their  dwellings,  nets  are  then  thrown  across, 
and  the  animals  are  driven  from  their  abodes  and 
compelled  to  enter  the  nets.  It  is  usual,  in  summer, 
to  take  them  in  their  houses,  by  what  is  called  staking 
them.  To  effect  this  purpose  the  hunters  first  make 
an  opening  in  the  roof,  in  order  to  discover  the  exact 
position  of  the  angle,  and  having  adapted  a  number 
of  stakes  to  the  opening,  so  as  to  completely  blockade 
it,  they  cover  in  the  top,  and  leave  the  stakes  on  one 
side  ready  for  use.  This  done,  they  drive  the  Beavers, 
by  means  of  dogs,  from  all  parts-  of  the  pond  or  river ; 
and  when  the  affrighted  and  hunted  animals  have  sue- 


288 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


ceeded  in  reaching  their  homes,  they  again  put  up 
their  stakes  before  the  door-way,  take  off  the  tempo 
rary  covering  from  the  roof,  and  either  take  them  in 
a  living  state,  or  spear  them  in  their  habitations. 
When  they  inhabit  a  sheet  of  water,  which  is  merely 
kept  up  by  a  dam,  they  are  still  more  readily  taken, 
by  letting  off  the  water,  and  leaving  their  huts  quite 
dry.  The  gun  is  also  sometimes,  though  not  very 
generally,  used;  and  log-traps,  baited  with  poplar 
sticks,  are  now  and  then  made  use  of  to  commit  havoc 
among  them. 


THE   MOOSE. 


The  Moose  or  Elk  (Cervus  Aloes)  is  found  in  Cali 
fornia.  This  animal  is  the  largest  of  his  genus,  being 
higher  at  the  shoulders  than  the  horse ;  its  horns 
weigh  sometimes  near  fifty  pounds ;  accordingly,  to 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA.  289 

bear  this  heavy  weight,  its  neck  is  short  and  strong, 
taking  away  much  of  the  elegance  of  proportion  so 
generally  predominant  in  the  deer ;  but  when  it  is 
asserted  that  the  elk  wants  beauty  or  majesty,  the 
opinion  can  be  entertained  by  those  only  who  have 
seen  the  female,  the  young,  or  the  mere  stuffed  speci 
mens  ;  for  we  who  have  had  the  opportunity  of  view 
ing  the  animal  in  all  the  glory  of  his  full-grown  horns, 
amid  the  scenery  of  his  own  wilderness,  no  animal 
could  appear  more  majestic  or  more  imposing.  It  is, 
however,  the  aggregate  of  his  appearance  which  pro 
duces  this  effect;  for  when  the  proportions  of  its 
structure  are  considered  in  detail,  they  certainly  will 
seem  destitute  of  that  harmony  of  parts  which  in  the 
imagination  produces  the  feeling  of  beauty.  The 
head,  measuring  above  two  feet  in  length,  is  narrow 
and  clumsily  shaped  by  the  swelling  upon  the  upper 
part  of  the  nose  and  nostrils ;  the  eye  is  proportion 
ally  small  and  sunk ;  the  ears  long,  hairy,  and  asinine ; 
the  neck  and  withers  are  surmounted  by  a  heavy 
mane,  and  the  throat  furnished  with  long  coarse  hair, 
and  in  younger  specimens  encumbered  with  a  pendu 
lous  gland ;  these  give  altogether  an  uncouth  charac 
ter  to  this  part  of  the  animal.  Its  body,  however,  is 
round,  compact,  and  short;  the  tail  not  more  than 
four  inches  long,  and  the  legs,  though  very  long, 
are  remarkably  clean  and  firm ;  this  length  of  limbs 
and  the  overhanging  lips,  have  caused  the  ancients 
to  fancy  that  it  grazed  walking  backwards.  The 
hair  of  the  animal  is  coarse  and  angular,  breaking 
if  bent. 

The  Elk  is  an  inhabitant  of  northern  latitudes  ;  in 
Europe  between  the  fifty-third  and  sixty-fifth  degrees, 
making  a  part  of  Prussia,  Poland,  Sweden,  Norway, 
25 


290  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Finland,  Lapland,  and  Russia.  In  Asia  it  is  found 
farther  south,  from  thirty-five  to  beyond  the  fiftieth, 
spreading  over  Tartary,  and  abounding  in  Japan,  if 
indeed  the  denomination  of  Elk  is  not  misstated  for 
that  of  Rusa,  or  an  undescribed  species.  In  America 
it  resides  between  the  forty-fourth  and  fifty-third  de 
grees,  round  the  great  lakes,  and  over  the  whole  of 
Canada  and  New  Brunswick. 

Its  movements  are  rather  heavy,  and  the  shoul 
ders  being  higher  than  the  croup  it  does  not  gallop, 
but  shuffles  or  ambles  along,  its  joints  cracking  at 
every  step  with  a  sound  heard  to  some  distance.  In 
creasing  its  speed,  the  hind  feet  straddle  to  avoid 
treading  on  its  fore-heels,  tossing  the  head  and  shoul 
ders  like  a  horse  about  to  break  from  a  trot  to  a 
gallop.  It  does  not  leap,  but  steps  without  effort  over 
a  fallen  tree,  a  gate,  or  a  split  fence.  During  its 
progress  it  holds  the  nose  up,  so  as  to  lay  the  horns 
horizontally  back.  This  attitude  prevents  it  seeing 
the  ground  distinctly,  and  as  the  weight  is  carried  very 
high  upon  his  elevated  legs,  it  is  said  sometimes  to 
trip  by  treading  on  its  fore-heels  or  otherwise, 
and  occasionally  to  give  itself  a  heavy  fall.  It 
is  probably  owing  to  this  occurence  that  the  Elk 
was  believed  by  the  ancients  and  the  vulgar  to  have 
frequent  attacks  of  epilepsy,  and  to  be  obliged  to 
smell  its  hoof  before  it  could  recover ;  hence  the 
Teutonic  name  of  eleud  (miserable),  and  the  reputa 
tion  especially  of  the  fore  hoofs  as  a  specific  against 
the  disease. 

During  the  winter  months,  the  Elk  resides  chiefly 
in  hilly  woods,  in  snowy  weather  seeking  the  covers, 
and  in  clear  the  open  spaces.  In  summer  it  frequents 
swamps  on  the  borders  of  lakes,  often  going  deep  into 


HISTOKY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


291 


the  water  to  escape  the  sting  of  gnats,  &c.,  and  to 
feed  without  stooping.  Its  usual  food  in  winter  con 
sists  of  the  buds  and  bark  of  button-wood,  spruce,  and 
juniper  pines,  birch  and  maple,  and  under  the  snow  it 
seeks  stink  wood  (Anagyris  fcetidd)  and  mosses,  but 
this  is  always  with  difficulty,  for  then  it  is  obliged  to 
spread  the  fore  legs,  or  even  it  is  said  to  kneel.  The 
branches  of  trees  it  turns  down  with  the  horns  very 
dexterously ;  but  to  get  at  the  ground  we  have  been 
assured  by  Huron  and  the  Canadian  hunters,  when 
the  snow  has  fallen  only  a  foot  or  two  in  depth,  that 
the  herd;  led  by  an  old  male,  shovel  it  back,  and  throw 
it  over  their  heads,  the  snow  falling  on  either  side,  as 
it  slides  from  the  inclined  planes  of  the  back  of  their 
horns  ;  meantime  the  fore  feet  of  all  are  equally  en 
gaged  in  striking  it  from  under  them. 

During  a  part  of  the  year,  the  herd  consists  of  an 
old  female,  two  adult  females,  two  young  females,  and 
two  young  males ;  but  during  the  snowy  periods,  at 
least  in  America,  one  or  more  adult  males  are  certainly 
among  them,  very  old  males  alone  keeping  aloof  un 
til  the  rutting  season,  unless  the  winter  be  very  severe. 
Several  of  these  families  keep  near  each  other,  and 
in  very  cold  weather  they  seek  cover  together,  and 
remain  closely  pressed  against  each  other,  or  trot  in  a 
circle  till  they  have  beaten  the  snow  down.  When 
the  rutting  period  commences,  which  is  about  the  be 
ginning  of  September,  the  old  males  seek  the  females, 
and  expel  the  young,  who  are  obliged  to  keep  aloof 
while  the  animals  remain  in  heat.  At  this  time  they 
will  swim  rivers  in  pursuit  of  the  females,  or  after 
them  to  remain  concealed  in  some  of  the  Lake  Islands. 
The  males  are  then  very  pugnacious ;  they  bellow  of 
ten  and  sink  in  flesh.  The  gravid  females  bring  forth 


292  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

about  the  middle  of  May,  at  first  one,  but  ordinarily 
two  calves,  of  a  brown  red  color.  These  are  so 
simple  and  void  of  fear  that  in  the  first  months  they 
are  easily  taken,  and  if  in  the  water,  where  they  wil 
lingly  go  to  avoid  the  flies,  they  will  suffer  persons  in 
a  canoe  to  come  up  to  them  and  take  them  by  the 
head  without  appearing  in  the  least  frightened. 

The  dags,  prickets,  or  incipient  antlers  are  the  first 
year  not  more  than  an  inch  in  length ;  the  second, 
they  rise  to  a  foot ;  the  third,  they  are  forked  ;  and 
the  fourth,  they  assume  six  snags  and  are  somewhat 
flattened ;  tho,  fifth  year  the  blade  is  still  small,  but 
their  expansion  from  that  time  forward  is  uniform, 
though  it  does  not  appear  that  the  number  of  snags 
ever  exceed  twenty-eight.  In  a  very  large  specimen — 
there  were  twenty- two,  the  length,  from  the  head  to  the 
tip  twenty-seven  inches,  and  from  tip  to  tip  across  the 
horns  three  feet  six ;  the  two  lower  snags  on  either 
side  separated  by  a  deep  indenture ;  the  weight  about 
thirty-three  pounds.  Old  Elks  shed  their  horns  in 
January  and  February,  and,  if  lean  from  a  severe 
winter,  in  March  ;  the  younger  later,  till  the  month  of 
May.  They  are  again  completely  restored  in  the 
former  by  the  end  of  June,  and  in  the  latter  in 
August. 

Several  other  species  of  deer  are  found  in  Cali 
fornia.  Among  others  are  the  Large  Eared  Deer 
(Oervus  Macrotis).  This  is  a  species,  resembling  the 
Virginian  and  Mexican  deer,  and  also  in  some  respects 
the  Wapiti ;  but  according  to  the  descriptions  of 
Harlan  and  Say,  it  is  different.  The  upper  part  is 
light  reddish  brown,  and  the  sides  and  fore  part  of 
the  nose  ash  color;  the  back  intermixed  with  blackish 
tipped  hairs,  which  form  a  distinct  line  on  the  neck 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


293 


near   the  head;   tail  reddish-cinereous  black  at  the 
tip ;  this  part   is  somewhat  compressed,  and  almost 


THE  LARGE  EARED  DEER. 

naked  beneath ;  the  hoofs  are  shorter  and  wider  than 
those  of  the  Virginian  Deer,  and  more  like  those  of 
the  Wapiti ;  the  horns  slightly  grooved  and  tubercu- 
lated  at  base  with  a  similar  antler,  as  in  the  Virginian ; 
the  beam  less  curved  forwards,  is  bifurcated  near  the 
summit,  again  divided,  the  anterior  of  the  second  bi- 
furcatipn  being  somewhat  longer  than  the  posterior ; 
the  ears  very  long,  extend  to  the  principal  bifurca 
tion,  about  half  the  length  of  the  whole  horn  ;  the 
lateral  incisor  teeth  are  larger  in  proportion  to  the 
intermediate  than  in  the  Virginian ;  eyelashes  black ; 
lachrymal  apertures  also  larger,  and  the  hair  coarser, 
and  undulated,  and  compressed  like  that  of  the  Wa- 
5* 


294 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


piti.  The  species  is  found  in  the  most  remote  north 
western  territories  of  the  United  States,  and  from  the 
context  of  this  description  it  appears  evident  that  the 
Guazupuco  Deer  is  nearest  allied  to  it,  and  that  the 
Guazuti  and  the  Virginian  are  clearly  of  the  same 
group. 


THE   LOXG-TAILED  DEER. 

The  Long-tailed  Deer  (Cervus  Macrourus)  is  an 
other  California  animal.  This  species  is  described  as 
being  larger  than  the  Red  Deer  or  Stag  of  Europe, 
darker  in  color  on  the  upper  part,  and  having  the  bel 
ly  white,  the  tail,  from  which  it  gets  its  specific  name, 
different  from  that  of  most  species  of  deer,  is  about 
eighteen  inches  in  length,  black  on  the  upper  part, 
but  with  broad  white  margins,  and  carried  erect  when 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


295 


the  animal  runs.    The  horns  arc  short  and  altogether 
of  small  size  and  flattened,  but  not  palmated. 

The  Pronghorn  Antelope  (Antilope  Furcifur)  is 
another  beautiful  species  of  deer  found  in  California. 
It  is  found  chiefly  in  the  mountain  regions,  where  it  is 
often  seen  to  tantalize  the  hunter  by  its  extreme  shy 
ness  and  its  great  agility. 


:5P& ~^* — -'"' 

(j^ST-  =c-..-.w*.-^u-^ 

PRONGHORN   ANTELOPE. 

The  Argali  Ovis  Moritanoe  is  found  in  California,  is 
sometimes  called  the  Rocky  Mountain  Sheep. 

By  some  the  goat  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  has  been 
confounded  with  this  animal ;  and  it  has  also  been 
called  an  antelope,  though  it  is  neither  the  one  nor  the 
other,  but  truly  and  properly  a  goat.  The  characters 
of  this  species,  or  probably  variety  (for  it  really  seems 
that,  notwithstanding  all  the  diversities  of  the  genus 
(his,  whether  in  the  wild  or  the  cultivated  state,  there 


296  HISTOKY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


ARGALI. 

is  no  well  made  out  distinction  more  broad  than  that 
of  variety,)  are  very  apparent,  and  at  once  prevent 
any  possibility  of  confounding  it  either  with  the  ante 
lopes  or  the  goats,  though  of  course,  as  all  sheep  do, 
it  approximates  more  closely  to  the  latter  of  these  than 
to  the  former.     The  body  is  remarkable  for  its  thick 
ness  and  roundness  in  proportion  to  its  length ;  the 
legs  are  very  long  ;  the  outline  of  the  forehead,  seen 
in  profile,  is  nearly  straight ;  and  the  muzzle  is  almost 
exactly  tha,t  of  the  common  sheep.     The  horns  of  the 
male  are  very  thick  and  large  ;  they  advance  in  front 
of  the  eyes,   and   form  nearly  an   entire  turn  of  a 
spiral.     They  are  flattened  laterally  like  those  of  the 
domestic  ram,  and  have  similar  transverse  furrows  and 
ridges.     These  furrows  and  ridges  are  very  conspicu 
ous  on  the  basal  half  of  the  length  of  the  horn,  but 
much  less  so  on  the  terminal  half;  and  of  the  three 
lateral  faces  the  front  one  is  the  largest.     The  horns 
of  the  female  are  much  more  slender  than  those  of  the 
male ;  they  are  compressed,  nearly  straight,  and  with 
out  furrows  ;  there  are,  in  some  instances,  plates  or 
folds  of  skin  under  the  throat,  especially  in  the  male ; 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  297 

the  tail  is  very  short  in  both  sexes  ;  the  color  in  sum 
mer  is  generally  grayish  fawn,  with  a  reddish  or 
yellowish  line  down  the  back,  and  a  large  patch  of 
the  same  color -on  the  buttocks;  and  the  under  part, 
and  the  insides  of  the  legs  are  either  russet,  yellowish, 
or  of  a  white  sand  color  ;  in  winter  the  color  of  the 
upper  part  is  more  reddish,  and  the  throat  and  breast 
are  more  inclining  to  white  ;  but  the  patch  on  the 
buttocks  remains  much  the  same  at  all  seasons. 

These  animals  are  found  in  little  flocks,  of  about 
twenty  or  thirty  in  each,  on  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  extending  southward  as  far  as  California.  Several 
naturalists  have  expressed  their  conviction  that  the 
mouflon  of  the  south  of  Europe,  the  Argali  of  Asia,  and 
the  wild  sheep  of  America,  are  only  climatal  varieties 
of  one  great  species,  to  which  they  have  given  the 
name  of  "mountain  sheep  ;"  but  whether  this  is  or  is 
not  positively  the  fact,  we  have  no  means  of  ascertain 
ing.  Probability  is  in  favor  of  it,  however,  and  the 
more  so  that,  among  the  domesticated  sheep,  which 
we  have  every  reason  to  believe  are  all  originally  of 
the  same  stock,  whatever  that  stock  may  have  been, 
there  are  differences  of  external  appearance  fully 
greater  than  any  which  are  to  be  met  with  among  the 
wild  ones  ;  and  we  believe  that,  in  the  whole  genus, 
there  are  no  differences  but  external  ones.  Some 
further  confusion  and  uncertainty  is  produced  among 
these  wild  sheep  by  the  conduct  of  the  keepers  of 
museums,  who  have  filled  these  with  horns  and  other 
scraps,  not  having  any  history,  and  which  have,  in 
consequence,  been  referred  to  places  where  they  are 
not  to  be  found.  The  great  puzzle  in  the  history  of 
this  genus,  however,  is  the  proneness  which  it  has  to 
break  into  varieties,  not  only  in  different  countries, 


298 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


but  in  the  same  country,  and  even  in  the  same  flock. 
There  are,  however,  other  two  species  or  varieties 
which  are  worthy  of  notice,  though  even  they  do  not 
settle,  or  tend  to  settle,  the  question  of  common  origin. 
The  Bison  (Bos  Americanus)  is  extremely  rare 
now  in  California,  though  supposed  to  have  been  com 
mon  in  former  times. 


BISON. 

Like  its  congener  the  aurochs,  the  American  Bison 
is  of  powerful  frame,  and  exceeds  in  bulk  the  ordinary 
race  of  cattle,  -its  height  at  the  fore-quarters  being 
upwards  of  six  feet,  and  its  weight  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  hundred  weight,  and  sometimes  much  more. 
The  head  is  huge,  ponderous,  and  carried  low;  the 
withers  are  massive  and  elevated ;  the  eyes  are  small 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


299 


and  their  expression  is  ferocious  ;  the  horns  are  small 
and  black.  The  neck,  withers,  and  chest,  are  covered 
with  a  profusion  of  long  shaggy  hair,  contributing  to 
render  the  appearance  of  the  animal  wild  and  terrific ; 
the  hinder  quarters  are  clothed  with  shorter  wool. 
The  general  color  is  umber  brown,  acquiring  a  rusty 
tint  in  winter.  Endowed  with  the  sense  of  smell 
in  great  perfection,  wary  and  fierce,  the  Bison  asso 
ciates  in  large  herds  conducted  by  one  or  two  old 
bulls,  whose  motions  the  rest  appear  to  follow ;  but 
herds  of  bulls  also  live  separately.  Their  food  consists 
of  grass  and  rank  herbage,  to  obtain  which  in  winter 
they  scrape  away  the  snow  with  their  feet.  On  the 
approach  of  an  enemy  the  herd  immediately  takes  to 
flight ;  but  if  one  be  wounded,  the  life  of  the  hunter  is 
placed  in  great  jeopardy,  for  turning  ift  a  moment,  it 
rushes  on  its  assailant  with  headlong  impetuosity  and 
with  determined  resolution.  Several  fatal  instances 
might  be  cited  in  which  the  hunter  has  perished  from 
want  of  caution  in  attacking  this  formidable  beast,  and 
many  hairbreadth  escapes  are  on  record. 

In  defending  itself  from  a  dog  the  Bison  strikes 
violently  with  its  fore-feet  and  easily  keeps  its  annoy 
ing  foe  at  bay. 

The  flesh  of  this  animal  is  accounted  excellent,  the 
tongue  and  hump,  or  flesh  on  the  top  of  the  withers, 
being  especial  delicacies.  The  chase  of  the  Bison  is 
therefore  assiduously  carried  on,  both  by  the  natives 
and  the  Europeans. 

The  Bison  swims  well,  and  during  the  heats  of  sum 
mer  vast  herds  make  their  way  to  shady  rivulets, 
streams,  and  pools,  in  which  they  delight  to  plunge 
and  bathe.  Herds  of  twenty  thousand,  crossing  rivers 
upwards  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  have  been  seen,  as 


300  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Lewis  and  Clarke  inform  us,  or  darkening  the  plains 
on  their  passage  to  fresh  feeding-grounds. 

Salt  springs,  or  saline  morasses,  or  salt-licks,  are 
great  attractions  to  this  animal,  and  at  all  seasons  are 
visited  by  numerous  herds.  These,  however,  are 
incessantly  thinned  by  the  hunters,  and  the  time  is 
not  probably  far  distant  when  the  American  Bison 
will  be  as  rare  and  as  limited  in  its  extent  of  range  as 
the  aurochs  of  Lithuania. 

At  certain  seasons  of  the  year  the  bulls  engage  in 
terrible  conflicts,  and  rush  furiously  upon  man,  or  any 
other  animal  which  ventures  near  them.  With  the 
exception  of  man,  the  most  formidable  enemy  against 
which  the  Bison  has  to  contend  is  the  huge  grisly  bear, 
and  before  this  dreaded  monster  the  strongest  bull 
goes  down. 

It  appears  that  the  Bison  will  breed  with  the  ordi 
nary  race  of  domestic  cattle,  against  which  the  aurochs 
displays  the  greatest  antipathy,  though  in  one  respect 
the  latter  approaches  nearer  to  the  common  ox  than 
does  the  Bison ;  we  allude  to  the  number  of  ribs,  which 
are  thirteen  in  the  ox  on  each  side,  fourteen  in  the 
aurochs,  and  fifteen  in  the  Bison. 

The  Sea  Otter  (Lutra  Marina),  so  renowned  for  its 
valuable  fur,  is  found  on  the  coast,  and  the  Land 
Otter  (Lutra  Brasiliensis)  in  the  rivers. 

The  Sea-Otter  is  a  native  of  the  north-west  coast  of 
America,  from  California  to  latitude  60°,  and  of  the 
opposite  coast  of  Asia,  from  the  Yellow  Sea  to  the 
north  of  Kamtchatka  and  the  intermediate  islands. 
Its  fur,  which  is  of  a  black  color,  sometimes  chestnut- 
brown,  and  occasionally  even  yellow,  is  soft,  full,  and 
beautiful,  and  is  an  object  of  commerce,  being  pro- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


301 


cured  by  the  Russians  for  the  Chinese  market,  where 
it  sells  for  a  high  price. 

This  animal  haunts  sea-washed  rocks,  and  lives 
mostly  in  the  water,  where  it  procures  its  food,  which 
consists  of  fish,  and,  as  is  indicated  by  the  character 
of  the  teeth,  which  are  evidently  formed  for  bruising 
hard  substances,  shelled  mollusks,  and  Crustacea.  In 
summer  the  Sea-Otter  often  ascends  the  rivers  to  the 
inland  lakes.  The  female  produces  on  land  a  single 
cub.  The  average  length  of  this  species  is  three  feet, 
exclusive  of  the  tail,  which  measures  about  ten  inches. 

There  are  several  species  of  rats,  mice,  marmots, 
and  squirrels  in  California.  Mr.  Farnham  informs  us 
that  the  Pouched  Rat  (Pecudostonia  lursarium\  and 
the  small  marmot  (Arctomys  Beecheyi),  are  found  in 
California,  the  latter  being  very  plentiful  in  the  plains 
near  San  Francisco  and  Monterey,  burrowing  in  the 
ground  and  carrying  in  its  capacious  chest  pouches,  a 
store  of  nuts,  corn,  and  acorns.  There  are  several 
other  varieties  of  the  Arctomys,  such  as  the  Prairie 
Marmot  (Arctomys  ludovicianus\  and  the  Woodchuck, 
(Arctomys  Monax^)  the  latter  is  found  in  the  Atlantic 
States. 

It  does  not  inhabit  the  very  cold  places  of  America, 
but  rather  the  central  and  southern  parts  of  the 
United  States,  and  perhaps  places  further  to  the  south ; 
for  Catesby  styles  it  "the  Bahama  rabbit."  In  the 
United  States  it  is  called  the  ground  hog,  and  various 
other  local  names,  none  of  which  are  very  applicable. 
Its  color  is  rusty  brown,  rather  darker  on  the  flanks 
than  on  the  middle  of  the  back ;  a  portion  round  the 
muzzle  is  bluish  gray,  and  the  tail  is  black. 

Among  the  animals  of  the  squirrel  kind  enumerated 
26 


302 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


WOODCHUCK. 

by  Mr.  Famham,  are  the  Gray  Squirrel,  (jSciune* 
Cinereus,)  the  Xrreat-tailed  Squirrel  (Sciurus  macron- 
veus\  the  Flying  Squirrel,  the  Striped  Squirrel,  and 
the  Black  Squirrel  (Sciurus  niger.)  The  last  is  a 
beautiful  species  sometimes  found  in  the  Atlantic 
States. 

Its  face  is  described  as  being  in  general  black,  but 
with  some  white  markings  very  differently  placed  in 
different  individuals.  In  some  the  nose  is  white,  in 
others  the  feet ;  in  others,  again,  the  tip  of  the  tail ; 
yet,  again,  there  is  a  white  collar  round  the  neck ;  and 
these  markings  may  all  appear  in  the  same  individual, 
or  any  number  of  them  may  appear  in  any  of  the 
combinations  which  they  can  form*.  These  circum- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


303 


THE   BLACK   SQUIRREL. 

stances  render  the  history  of  the  species  uncertain ; 
but  it  appears,  if  a  distinct  species,  to  be  pretty  widely 
spread,  for  it  has  been  obtained  in  the  States  and  also 
in  Mexico.  It  is  described  as  being  a  much  more 
social  animal  than  the  gray  squirrel. 

Of  the  Hare  there  are  several  fine  species,  one 
weighing  from  eight  to  twelve  pounds,  which  Mr. 
Farnham  supposes  to  be  the  Lepus  glacialis  ;  another 
is  the  Prairie  Hare  (Lepus  Virginianus),  and  the 


304 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


Little    Hare  (Lepus  princeps),   only  six  inches   in 
length. 

Among  the  more  remarkable   birds  of  California, 
are  the  following : 


THE   CONDOR. 


The  Condor  (Vulture  condor)  is  the  celebrated 
vulture  of  America,  of  whose  size,  strength,  and  daring, 
so  many  marvellous  tales  have  been  told,  that  had 
there  been  any  such  animals  as  elephants  in  South 
America,  it  is  highly  probable  that  we  should  have  had 
an  account  by  "  eye-witnesses,"  of  the  Condor  flying 
clear  over  Chimborazo  with  an  elephant  in  its  claws.  We 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


305 


have  no  room  to  go  into  its  history,  and  it  is  not 
necessary,  as  it  may  be  found  any  where,  since  Hum- 
boldt  brought  it  within  reason  and  reasonable  dimen 
sions.  It  is  only  a  little  larger  than  the  mountain 
vulture  of  the  Alps,  and  its  habits  are  nearly  the 
same ;  but  the  appendages  to  the  naked  part  of  the 
bird  bring  it  more  within  the  present  section.  The 
color  is.  blackish,  with  great  part  of  the  wings  ash, 
and  the  collar  on  the  neck  silky  and  white.  The  male 
has  one  large  carunculated  membrane  above  the  bill, 
and  another  below;  but  these  are  wanting  in  the 
female.  The  female  is  nearly  of  a  uniform  grayish 
brown ;  and  the  young  in  their  first  plumage  are  ash 
brown,  and  without  the  collar  of  feathers  upon  the 
neck.  Even  after  all  the  exaggerations  are  discounted, 
the  Condor  is  a  bird  of  no  small  interest.  It  is  the 
most  lofty-dwelling  bird  of  the  whole  class ;  and  the 
regions  of  storm  and  earthquake  which  it  inhabits  are 
of  themselves  well  calculated  to  give  it  a  very  peculiar 
importance. 

Cathartus  are  the  vultures  of  North  America,  some 
of  which  have  occasionally  been  confounded  with  the 
Condor  ;  and,  though  none  of  them  are  equal  to  that 
bird  in  story,  they  rival,  if  not  exceed  it,  in  size  and 
in  power.  We  cannot  go  into  the  details  of  all  the 
species,  of  which  there  are  several ;  and  therefore  we 
shall  give  a  few  particulars  of  one  as  a  specimen. 

C alif or nian  Vulture,  (Cathartus  vulturinus.)  This 
is  a  very  large  bird,  about  four  feet  and  a  half  in 
length,  and  nearly  ten  feet  in  the  stretch  of  the  wings. 
It  inhabits  North  America  to  the  westward  of  the 
Stony  Mountains,  and  is  particularly  abundant  in  the 
lower  valley  of  the  Columbia.  It  is  a  woodland  bird, 
and  does  not  appear  to  inhabit  very  high  latitudes, 
26* 


806  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

though,  like  the  vultures  of  the  eastern  hemisphere,  it 
is  more  northerly  in  the  summer  than  in  the  winter. 
Their  general  color  is  brown,  without  any  very  decided 
markings  ;  they  nestle  in  the  thick  woods,  choosing 
the  tallest  pines  in  the  wildest  and  most  inaccessible 
parts  of  the  mountain  valleys.  The  nest  is  composed 
of  sticks  and  coarse  grass,  and  the  pair  occupy  it  for 
many  years  in  succession.  The  eggs  are  two,  of  a  jet 
black  color,  nearly  round,  and  about  the  size  of  those 
of  a  goose.  The  hatching  time  is  about  the  first  of 
June,  and  the  incubation  lasts  about  thirty  days.  The 
young  are  at  first  covered  with  whitish  down,  and  five 
or  six  weeks  elapse  before  they  are  able  to  quit  the 
nest. 

Where  these  birds  inhabit  is  truly  a  Vulture's  coun 
try,  as  the  turns  of  the  seasons  are  particularly  violent 
both  on  land  and  at  sea.  Many  land  animals  are 
beaten  down  by  the  rains,  or  overtaken  by  the  swell 
ing  rivers ;  and  when  the  storm  abates,  the  wreck 
both  of  the  land  and  the  water  is  great.  This  is  in 
discriminately  eaten  by  the  vultures,  which  make 
common  prize  both  of  fishes  and  of  land  animals,  and 
heed  not  much  how  far  they  may  be  gone  in  putrefac 
tion.  Their  senses  are  keen,  especially  their  sense 
of  sight,  and  we  shall  not  enter  upon  the  disputed 
keenness  of  the  sense  of  smell  in  vultures,  which,  to 
say  the  best,  appears  to  have  been  most  gratuitously 
exaggerated.  When  on  the  reconnoitre,  or  tracking 
the  progress  of  a  wounded  animal,  they  fly  very  high  ; 
and,  though  there  may  not  be  one  in  sight  when  it 
falls,  the  carcass  of  a  large  animal  speedily  attracts  a 
number  of  vultures ;  and  they  come  to  a  recent  car 
case  just  as  readily  as  to  a  tainted  one,  to  that  which 
does  not  smell  with  the  same  readiness  as  to  that 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


307 


CALIFORNIA   VULTURE. 

which  does,  and  this  is  against  the  common  notion  of 
the  acuteness  of  their  scent.  Indeed  the  foetid  dis 
tillation  from  their  own  nostrils  is  a  pretty  strong 
argument  against  their  smelling  power  ;  a  man  with 
his  nose  constantly  bathed  in  assafoetida  would  not  be 
in  the  best  condition  for  finding  roses  by  the  scent. 
"  Their  voracity,"  says  the  lamented  David  Douglas, 
"  is  almost  insatiable,  and  they  are  extremely  ungene 
rous,  suffering  no  other  animal  to  approach  them 
while  feeding.  After  eating  they  become  so  sluggish 
and  indolent  as  to  remain  in  the  same  place,  until 
urged  by  hunger  to  go  in  quest  of  another  repast. 
At  such  times  they  perch  on  decayed  trees,  with 
their  heads  so  much  retracted  as  to  be  with  difficulty 
observed  through  the  long,  loose,  lanceolate  feathers 
of  the  collar ;  the  wings  at  the  same  time  hang  down 
over  the  feet.  This  position  they  invariably  preserve 


308  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

in  dewy  mornings,  or  after  rains.  Except  after  eating, 
or  while  guarding  their  nest,  they  are  so  excessively 
wary  that  the  hunter  can  scarcely  ever  approach 
sufficiently  near  for  even  buck-shot  to  take  effect  on 
them,  the  fulness  of  the  plumage  affording  them  a 
double  chance  of  escaping  uninjured.  Their  flight  is 
slow,  steady,  and  particularly  graceful,  gliding  along 
with  scarcely  any  apparent  motion  of  the  wings,  the 
tips  of  which  are  curved  upward  in  flying.  They 
are  seen  in  greatest  numbers,  and  soar  highest  before 
hurricanes  and  thunder-storms.  Their  quills  are  used 
by  the  hunters  as  tubes  for  tobacco-pipes." 


TURKEY  BUZZARD,  OR  TURKEY  VULTURE. 

The  Turkey  Vulture  (Oathartus  aura)  is  another 
American  species  of  smaller  size,  and  more  generally 
distributed.  It  is  about  two  feet  and  a  half  in  length, 
and  six  feet  in  the  expanse  of  the  wings.  The  upper 
parts  are  nearly  black,  with  some  white  markings,  and 
the  lower  parts  sooty  brown.  They  are  common  in 
the  United  States,  but  leave  the  northern  ones  in  the 
winter. 

The  Black  Vulture  (Oathartus  atratus)  is  a  darker 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


309 


and  smaller  species ;  and  so  familiar  that  it  frequents 
the  towns,  and  plies  as  a  scavenger  in  the  streets,  in 
which  office  it  is  protected  by  the  inhabitants.  It  is 
about  two  feet 'two  inches  in  length,  and  four  feet  four 
inches  in  the  stretch  of  the  wings.  The  general  color 
is  dull  black,  with  some  white  on  the  insidcs  of  the 
primary  quills.  It  is  a  dull  and  sluggish  bird,  and  the 
smell  of  it  is  peculiarly  offensive. 

The  Golden  Eagle  (Aquila  Chrysaetos,)  is  one  of 
the  most  powerful  of  the  eagle  tribe.  Its  feathers  are 
much  prized  by  the  Indians  as  ornaments,  and  are 
attached  to  their  pipes  or  calumets,  whence  they  call 
the  bird  the  Calumet  Eagle.  It  is  seen  on  the  coast 
and  in  the  woods  and  mountainous  parts  of  California. 

The  following  are  nearly  the  average  external 
characters  of  the  female  Golden  Eagle,  which  is  the 
more  powerful  bird,  and  therefore  the  typical  one, 
at  that  age  when  the  colors  expressive  of  youth 
have  disappeared,  and  those  of  old  age  have  not  come 
on  : — Tip  of  the  bill  and  the  claws  black  ;  basal  part 
of  the  bill  bluish  ;  naked  skin  or  cere  at  the  base  of 
the  bill,  and  toes,  which  are  the  only  naked  parts  of 
the  feet,  yellow ;  irides  of  the  eyes  bright  orange 
brown,  inclining  to  yellow ;  crown  of  the  head  and 
nape  of  the  neck  bright  orange  brown  ;  sometimes,  in 
birds  which  have  passed  a  certain  age,  margined  with 
white,  which  becomes  broader  as  age  increases.  The 
feathers  on  the  neck  narrow,  pointed,  and  very  distinct, 
bristling  out  from  each  other  when  the  bird  is  in  a 
state  of  excitement ;  chin  and  throat  rich  dark  brown, 
passing  gradually  into  pale  reddish  brown  on  the 
under  part,  in  which  it  terminates  in  the  vent  feathers, 
and  feathers  on  the  tarsi,  the  latter  being  slender  and 
very  much  produced ;  upper  part  deep  orange  brown, 


22 


310 


HISTORY   Off   CALIFORNIA. 


GOLDEN   EAGLE. 

margin  rather  paler,  which  gives  a  bold  relief  to  the 
individual  feathers ;  coverts  of  the  wings  nearly  the 
secondary  quills  clouded  with  various  shades 


same 


of  brown  ;  and  primary  quills  black.  Tail  purplish 
brown,  barred  across  with  blackish  brown,  and  having 
a  broad  line  of  the  same  across  the  extremity.  The 
feathers  are  all  remarkable  for  the  firmness  of  their 
texture,  and  their  profusion  in  the  eagle  feather,  which 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


311 


BALD    EAGLE. 

gives  them  something  of  the  same  appearance  as  if 
they  were  imbricated  scales. 

The  Bald  Eagle  (Aquila  leucocephalm.)  As  this 
bird  is  certainly  much  more  characteristic  of  North 
America  than  of  any  other  part  of  the  world,  and, 
as  it  is  there  a  bird  of  the  greatest  interest,  we 
should  be  doing  it  injustice  if  we  attempted  to  describe 
it  in  any  other  language  than  that  of  Wilson : — "  This 
distinguished  bird,"  says  this  equally  distinguished 
naturalist,  "as  he  is  the  most  beautiful  of  his  tribe  in 
this  part  of  tho  world,  and  the  adopted  emblem  of  our 
country,  is  entitled  to  particular  notice.  The  cele 
brated  cataract  of  Niagara  is  a  noted  place  of  resort 


812  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

for  the  Bald  Eagle,  as  well  on  account  of  the  fish  pro 
cured  there,  as  for  the  numerous  carcasses  of  squirrels, 
deer,  bears,  and  various  other  animals,  that,  in  their 
attempts  to  cross  the  river  above  the  Falls,  have  been 
dragged  into  the  current,  and  precipitated  down  that 
tremendous  gulf,  where,  among  the  rocks  that  bound 
the  rapids  below,  they  furnish  a  rich  repast  for  the 
vulture,  the  raven,  and  the  Bald  Eagle,  the  subject  of 
the  present  account.  Formed  by  nature  for  braving 
the  severest  cold ;  feeding  equally  on  the  produce  of 
the  sea,  and  of  the  land  ;  possessing  powers  of  flight 
capable  of  outstripping  even  the  tempests  themselves  ; 
unawed  by  any  thing  but  man ;  and,  from  the  ethereal 
heights  to  which  it  soars,  looking  abroad  at  one  glance, 
on  an  immeasurable  expanse  of  forests,  fields,  lakes, 
and  ocean,  deep  below  him,  he  appears  indifferent  to 
the  little  localities  of  change  of  seasons ;  as  in  a  few 
minutes  he  can  pass  from  summer  to  winter,  from  the 
lower  to  the  higher  regions  of  the  atmosphere,  the 
abode  of  eternal  cold,  and  from  thence  descend,  at 
will,  to  the  torrid  or  the  artic  regions  of  the  earth. 
He  is,  therefore,  found  at  all  seasons  in  the  countries 
he  inhabits ;  but  prefers  such  places  as  have  been  men 
tioned  above,  from  the  great  partiality  he  has  for  fish. 
"In  procuring  these,  he  displays  in  a  very  singular 
manner  the  genius  and  energy  of  his  character,  which 
is  fierce,  contemplative,  daring,  and  tyranical ;  attri 
butes  not  exerted  but  on  particular  occasions,  but, 
when  put  forth,  overpowering  all  opposition.  Elevated 
on  the  high  dead  limb  of  some  gigantic  tree,  that 
commands  a  wide  view  of  the  neighboring  shore,  and 
ocean,  he  seems  calmly  to  contemplate  the  motions  of 
the  various  feathered  tribes  that  pursue  their  busy 
avocations  below  ;  the  snow  white  gulls  slowly  win- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


313 


nowing  the  air ;  the  busy  tringge  coursing  along  the 
sands ;  trains  of  ducks  streaming  over  the  surface ; 
silent  and  watchful  cranes,  intent  and  wading ;  clamor 
ous  crows ;  and  .all  the  winged  multitudes  that  subsist 
by  the  bounty  of  this  vast  liquid  magazine  of  nature. 
High  over  all  these  hovers  one  whose  action  instantly 
arrests  his  whole  attention.     By  his  wide  curvature 
of  wing,  and  sudden  suspension  in  air,  he  knows  him 
to  be  the  fish  hawk,  settling  over  some  devoted  victim 
of  the  deep.  His  eye  kindles  at  the  sight,  and,  balanc 
ing  himself,  with  half-opened  wings,  on  the  branch, 
he  watches  the  result.     Down,  rapid  as  an  arrow  from 
heaven,  descends  the  distant  object  of  his  attention, 
the  roar  of  its  wings  reaching  the  ear  as  it  disappears 
in  the  deep,  making  the  surges  foam  around.    At  this 
moment,  the  eager  looks  of  the  Eagle  are  all  ardor ; 
and,  levelling  his  neck  for  flight,  he  sees  the  fish  hawk 
once   more   emerge,  struggling    with   his   prey,  and 
mounting  in  the  air  with  screams  of  exultation.     This 
is  the  signal  for  our  hero,  who,  launching  in  the  air, 
instantly  gives  chase,  and  soon  gains  on  the  fish  hawk ; 
each   exerts  his  utmost  to  mount   above  the  other, 
displaying  in  these  rencontres  the  most  elegant  and 
sublime  aerial  evolutions.     The  unencumbered  Eagle 
rapidly  advances,  and  is  just  on  the  point  of  reaching 
his  opponent,  when,  with  a  sudden  scream,  probably 
of  despair  and  honest  execration,  the  latter  drops  his 
fish  :  the  Eagle,  poising  himself  for  a  moment,  as  if  to 
take  a  more  certain  aim,  descends  like  a  whirlwind, 
snatches  it  in  his  grasp  ere  it  reaches  the  water,  and 
bears  his  ill-gotten  booty  silently  away  to  the  woods." 
The  Fish   Hawk    (Aquila  Halicetd)    referred   to 
above,  inhabits  the  coast  and  many  parts  of  the  inte 
rior  of  this  country.     The  flight  of  this  bird  is  easy 
27 


314 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


THE   FISH   HAWK. 

and  graceful,  and  its  plunge,  when  sweeping  down  to 
its  finny  prey,  inconceivably  rapid.  Audubon  says 
that  it  never  strikes  at  a  fish  leaping  out  of  the  water. 
In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  where  these  birds  are  numer 
ous,  :'  and  where  shoals  of  flying-fish  are  continually 
emerging  from  the  sea  to  escape  the  pursuit  of  the 
dolphins,  he  observed  that  the  Fish-hawks  never  made 
a  sweep  at  them,  but  would  at  once  plunge  after  them, 
or  other  fish,  while  swimming  in  their  usual  mode  near 
the  surface.  When  it  plunges  into  the  water  in  pur 
suit  of  a  fish,  it  sometimes  proceeds  deep  enough  to 
disappear  for  an  instant,  throwing  the  water  around 
into  foam  ;  on  rising,  it  mounts  a  few  yards  into  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  315 

air,  shakes  off  the  spray,  and  flies  off  to  its  nest  with 
its  booty,  or  to  an  accustomed  tree,  there  to  satisfy 
its  appetite,  when,  without  longer  repose,  it  again 
launches  into  the  air,  and  sails  circling  at  a  great 
height  over  tHe  waters. 

The  nest  of  the  Fish-hawk  is  built  in  a  tree,  and 
consists  of  a  mass  of  sticks,  seaweed,  grass,  turf,  &c., 
and  being  repaired  every  year,  is  sometimes  a  fair 
cartload.  Among  the  interstices  of  the  materials, 
other  birds  are  permitted  to  nidify,  and  several  pairs 
of  grakles,  or  crow-blackbirds,  may  be  often  seen  tak 
ing  up  their  abode  around  the  margin  and  sides  of 
the  structure,  "  like  humble  vassals  round  the  castle  of 
their  chief,"  laying  their  eggs,  rearing  their  yoiing, 
and  living  together  in  the  utmost  harmony. 

The  Fish-hawk  breeds  in  May ;  and  both  parents 
are  devoted  to  their  young,  defending  them  from  any 
assailant  with  indomitable  resolution,  and  using  both 
beak  and  talons  with  terrible  effect.  The  young  are 
generally  three  in  number. 

The  Peregrine  Falcon  (Falco  Peregrinus).  This 
bird  so  famous  as  having  been  used  in  the  princely 
sport  of  hawking  in  old  times,  is  found  in  this  country. 
Mr.  Selby,  in  his  British  Ornithology,  gives  an  in 
stance  of  great  daring  in  a  Falcon.  "  In  exercising 
my  dogs  upon  the  moors  previous  to  the  commence 
ment  of  the  shooting  season,  I  observed  a  large  bird 
of  the  hawk  genus  hovering  at  a  distance,  which  up 
on  approaching  I  knew  to  be  a  Peregrine  Falcon.  Its 
attention  was  now  drawn  towards  the  dogs,  and  it  ac 
companied  them  while  they  beat  the  surrounding 
ground.  Upon  their  having  found  and  sprung  a  brood 
of  grouse,  the  falcon  immediately  gave  chase  and 
struck  a  young  bird  before  they  had  proceeded  far 


316 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


THE    PEREGRINE    FALCON. 

upon  the  wing.  My  shouts  and  rapid  advance  pre 
vented  it  from  securing  its  prey.  The  issue  of  this 
attempt,  however,  did  not  deter  the  Falcon  from  watch 
ing  our  subsequent  movements ;  another  opportunity 
soon  offering,  it  again  gave  chase,  and  struck  down 
two  birds  by  two  rapidly  repeated  blows,  one  of  which 
it  secured  and  bore  off  in  triumph."  The  flight  of 
this  Falcon  when  pursuing  its  quarry  is  astonishingly 
rapid.  Montagu  has  reckoned  it  at  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  an  hour ;  and  Colonel  Thornton,  an  expert 
falconer,  estimated  the  flight  of  one  in  pursuit  of  a 
snipe  to  have  been  nine  miles  in  eleven  minutes,  with 
out  including  the  frequent  turnings.  Audubon,  in  his 
"  Birds  of  America,"  states  that  he  has  seen  this  Fal 
con  come  at  the  report  of  a  gun,  and  carry  off  a  teal 
not  thirty  steps  distant  from  the  sportsman  who  had 
killed  it,  "  with  a  daring  assurance  as  surprising  as 
unexpected." 

This  singular  aptitude  in  the  wild  bird  to  join  men 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  317 

and  dogs  in  their  pursuit  of  game,  availing  itself  of 
their  assistance,  shows  at  once  the  little  trouble  com 
paratively  speaking,  requisite  for  reclaiming  and  train 
ing  it.  A  knowledge  of  the  service  rendered  by  dogs 
and  men  in  putting  up  game,  thereby  giving  it  the 
opportunity  of  striking  it,  is  intuitive.  In  disposition 
it  is  confident  and  docile;  and  with  patience,  kind 
treatment,  and  proper  management,  its  training  is 
soon  effected. 

The  Peregrine  Falcon,  breeds  on  the  ledges  of  pre 
cipitous  rocks,  laying  four  eggs,  of  a  reddish  brown 
color,  with  darker  blotches  and  variegations. 

The  Fen  Falcon  (Falco  Islandicus)  is  large,  strong, 
exceedingly  compact  and  very  firm  in  its  plumage. 
The  male  bird  is  about  twenty  two  inches  long,  and  the 
stretch  of  its  wings  about  four  feet.  The  female  is 
still  larger.  This  bird  is  found  in  Upper  California. 

Among  other  birds  of  the  Falcon  tribe  are  the 
Sparrow  Hawk,  (Falco  Sparverius),  Pigeon  Hawk, 
(Falco  Columbarius\  and  the  Gos  Hawk  (Accipiter 
Columbarius). 

There  are  several  species  of  the  Owl  in  California. 
Among  these  is  the  Hawk  Owl  (Strix  Funerea),  a 
remarkable  species  which  forms  the  connecting  link 
between  the  falcons  and  the  hawks.  This  bird  preys 
on  small  birds,  and  sometimes  follows  the  hunter  like 
a  falcon  and  boldly  siezes  the  wounded  game  as  it 
flutters  on  the  ground.  He  also  feeds  on  mice,  squir 
rels,  and  insects.  Sometimes  the  Hawk  Owls  are 
observed  to  hover  round  the  camp  fires  of  the  natives 
in  quest  of  any  offal  or  rejected  game. 

The  Virginian  Horned  Owl  (Bubo  Virginiarius), 
common  in  the  United  States  and  the  fur  countries, 
is  found  here.     The  flight  of  this  bird  is  elevated, 
27* 


318 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


HAWK   OWL. 

rapid,  and  graceful.  It  sails  with  apparent  ease  in 
large  circles,  and  rises  and  descends  without  the  least 
difficulty,  by  merely  inclining  its  wings  or  its  tail  as 
it  passes  through  the  air.  Now  and  then  it  glides 
silently  close  over  the  earth  with  incomparable  ve 
locity,  and  drops  as  if  shot  dead  on  the  prey  beneath. 
At  other  times  it  suddenly  alights  on  the  top  of  a 
fence,  stake,  or  dead  stump,  and  utters  a  shriek  so 
horrid,  that  the  woods  around  echo  to  its  dismal 
sound.  During  the  utterance  of  the  deep  gurgling 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


319 


VIRGINIAN   HORNED    OWL. 

cries  so  well  described  by  Wilson,  it  moves  its  body, 
and  particularly  its  head,  in  various  grotesque  ways, 
and  at  intervals  violently  snaps  its  bill.  Its  food 
consists  of  various  gallinaceous  birds,  half-grown  tur 
keys,  domestic  poultry  of  all  kinds,  ducks,  grouse, 
hares,  opossums,  and  squirrels ;  and  whenever  chance 
throws  a  dead  fish  on  the  shore,  this  Bird  feeds  on  it 


320  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

with  peculiar  avidity.  The  Virginian  Horned  Owl  is 
very  powerful,  and  equally  spirited.  Mallards,  gui 
nea-fowl,  and  common  fowls  fall  an  easy  prey,  and 
are  carried  off  in  its  talons  to  the  depths  of  the  woods. 
When  wounded,  says  Audubon,  it  exhibits  a  revenge 
ful  tenacity  of  spiritj  scarcely  surpassed  by  the  noblest 
of  the  eagle  tribe ;  disdaining  to  scramble  away,  it 
faces  its  enemy  with  undaunted  courage,  protruding 
its  powerful  talons,  and  snapping  its  bill.  Its  large 
goggle  eyes  open  and  shut  in  quick  succession ;  and 
the  feathers  of  its '  body  are  puffed  up,  and  swell  out 
its  apparent  bulk  to  nearly  double  the  natural  size. 
In  some  districts  it  is  a  great  nuisance  to  the  settler, 
making  sad  havoc  among  his  stock  of  poultry.  Among 
some  of  the  Indian  nations  a  sort  of  reverential 
horror  is  entertained  towards  this  bird,  and  the  priests 
and  conjurers  have  adopted  it  as  the  symbol  of  their 
office,  carrying  about  with  them  a  stuffed  specimen 
with  glass  eyes,  which  excites  general  awe.  This 
bird  usually  constructs  a  bulky  nest  in  the  forked 
branch  of  a  tree,  composed  externally  of  crooked 
sticks,  and  lined  with  coarse  grass  and  feathers. 
The  eggs  are  three  or  four  in  number,  and  of  a  dull 
white. 

The  Mottled  Owl  (Strix  noevia),  a  small,  hand 
some  species  known  as  the  Little  Screech  Owl,  inhabits 
California  and  Oregon  as  well  as  the  Atlantic  States. 
They  feed  on  small  birds,  beetles,  crickets,  and  other 
insects,  build  in  hollow  trees,  and  utter  most  dismal 
shrieks  in  the  late  summer  and  autumn  evenings,  keep 
ing  up  the  din  till  midnight.  Mr.  Farnham  mentions 
the  Great  Snow  Owl  (Strix  Nictoea),  and  the  Burrow 
ing  Owl  (Strix  Cunicularia)  which  inhabits  the 


HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  321 


THE   MOTTLED   OWL. 

burrows  of  the  Prairie  Marmot.     This  bird  is  thus 
described  by  L.  Bonaparte. 

"  In  the  trans-Mississippian  territories  of  the  United 
States  the  Burrowing  Owl  resides  exclusively  in  the 
villages  of  the  marmot  or  prairie  dog,  whose  excava 
tions  are  so  commodious  as  to  render  it  unnecessary 
that  our  bird  should  dig  for  himself,  as  he  is  said  to 
do  in  other  parts  of  the  world  where  no  burrowing 
animals  exist.  These  villages  are  very  numerous, 
and  variable  in  their  extent,  sometimes  covering  only 
a  few  acres,  and  at  others  spreading  over  the  surface 
of  the  country  for  miles  together.  They  are  com 
posed  of  slightly  elevated  mounds,  having  the  form 
of  a  truncated  cone,  about  two  feet  in  width  at  base, 
and  seldom  rising  as  high  as  eighteen  inches  above 
the  surface  of  the  soil.  The  entrance  is  placed  either 


322  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

at  the  top  or  on  the  side,  and  the  whole  mound  is  beat 
en  down  externally,  especially  at  the  summit,  re 
sembling  a  much-used  footpath. 

"From  the  entrance,  the  passage  into  the  mound 
descends  vertically  for  one  or  two  feet,  and  is  thence 
continued  obliquely  downwards,  until  it  terminates  in 
an  apartment,  within  which  the  industrious  marmot 
constructs,  on  the  approach  of  the  cold  season,  a  com 
fortable  cell  for  his  winter's  sleep.  This  cell,  which 
is  composed  of  fine  dry  grass,  is  globular  in  form, 
with  an  opening  at  top  capable  of  admitting  the  fin 
ger ;  and  the  whole  is  so  firmly  compacted,  that  it 
might,  without  injury,  be  rolled  over  the  floor. 

"  In  all  the  prairie-dog  villages  the  Burrowing 
Owl  is  seen  moving  briskly  about,  or  else  in  small 
flocks  scattered  among  the  mounds,  and  at  a  distance 
it  may  be  mistaken  for  the  marmot  itself  when  sit 
ting  erect.  They  manifest  but  little  timidity,  and 
allow  themselves  to  be  approached  sufficiently  close 
for  shooting ;  but  if  alarmed,  some  or  all  of  them 
soar  away  or  settle  down  again  at  a  short  distance ; 
if  further  disturbed,  their  flight  is  continued  until 
they  are  no  longer  in  view,  or  they  descend  into  their 
dwellings,  whence  they  are  difficult  to  dislodge. 

"  The  burrows  into  which  these  Owls  have  been 
seen  to  descend,  on  the  plains  of  the  River  Platte  (a 
tributary  to  the  Missouri),  where  they  are  most  nume 
rous,  were  evidently  excavated  either  by  the  mar 
mot,  whence  it  has  been  inferred  by  Say  that  they 
were  common  though  unfriendly  residents  of  the  same 
habitation,  or  that  our  Owl  was  the  sole  occupant  of 
a  burrow  acquired  by  the  right  of  conquest.  That 
the  latter  idea  is  correct  was  clearly  presented  by  the 
ruinous  condition  of  the  burrows  tenanted  by  the  Owl, 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  323 

while  the  neat  and  well-preserved  mansion  of  the  mar 
mot  showed  the  active  care  of  a  skilful  and  industri 
ous  owner.  We  have  no  evidence  that  the  Owl  and 
marmot  habitually  resort  to  one  hurrow  ;  yet  we  are 
well  assured  by  Pike  and  others  that  a  common  dan 
ger  often  drives  them  into  the  same  excavation,  where 
lizards  and  rattlesnakes  also  enter  for  concealment 
and  safety.  The  Owl  observed  by  Vicillot  in  St.  Do 
mingo  digs  itself  a  burrow  two  feet  in  depth,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  its  eggs  are  deposited  on  a  bed  of 
moss,  herb-stalks,  and  dried  roots. 

"  The  note  of  our  bird  is  strikingly  similar  to  the 
cry  of  the  marmot,  which  sounds  like  cheh,  cheh, 
pronounced  several  times  in  rapid  succession  ;  and 
were  it  not  that  the  Burrowing  Owls  of  the  West  In 
dies,  where  no  marmots  exist,  utter  the  same  sound, 
it  might  be  inferred  that  the  marmot  was  the  unin 
tentional  tutor  to  the  young  owl:  this  cry  is  only 
uttered  as  the  bird  begins  its  flight.  The  food  of  the 
bird  we  are  describing  appears  to  consist  entirely  of 
insects,  as,  on  examination  of  its  stomach,  nothing 
but  parts  of  their  hard  wing-cases  were  found." 

The  American  Shrike,  or  Butcher  Bird  (Lanius 
Septentrionalis\  is  found  here.  His  principal  food 
is  large  insects,  such  as  grasshoppers,  crickets,  and 
spiders,  sometimes  impaling  them  on  thorns,  possibly 
as  a  lure  to  smaller  birds,  which  he  sometimes  attacks 
and  tears  in' pieces  with  his  sharp  hooked  bill.  He 
is  noted  also  for  his  imitative  powers  as  a  songster ; 
but  his  usual  note  is  discordant  and  hoarse. 

There  are  several  species  of  the  Fly  Catcher. 
Among  others,  the  well  known  King  Bird,  or  Tyrant 
Ply  Catcher,  (Muscicapa  Tyrannus.)  Among  smaller 
American  birds,  the  most  pugnacious  and  intrepid. 


324 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


AMERICAN   SHRIKE. 

On  this  bird,  Nuttall  has  the  following  remarks : 
"  In  a  natural  state  he  takes  his  station  on  the  top 
of  an  apple  tree,  a  stake,  or  a  tall  weed,  and  betwixt 
the  amusement  of  his  sqeuaking  twitter,  employs  him 
self  in  darting  after  his  insect  food.  Occasionally  he 
is  seen  hovering  over  the  field,  with  beating  wing, 
almost  like  a  hawk,  surveying  the  ground  or  herbage 
for  grasshoppers,  which  are  a  favorite  diet.  At  other 
times  they  may  be  observed  in  small  companies  flick 
ering  over  still  waters  in  the  same  employment,  the 
gratification  of  appetite.  Now  and  then,  during  the 
heat  of  summer,  they  are  seen  to  dip  and  bathe,  in 
the  watery  mirror,  and  with  this  washing,  drying,  and 
pluming,  they  appear  to  be  both  gratified  and  amused. 
During  the  season  of  their  sojourn,  the  pair  are  often 
seen  moving  about  in  company,  with  a  rapid  quiver- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


325 


KING   BIRD. 

ing  of  the  wings,  and  a  continued  tremulous  shrieking 
twitter.  Their  energetic  and  amusing  motions  are 
most  commonly  performed  in  warm  and  fine  weather, 
and  continue,  with  little  interruption,  until  towards 
the  end  of  August. 

"  One  of  the  most  remarkable  traits  in  the  charac 
ter  of  the  King  Bird,  is  the  courage  and  affection 
which  he  displays  for  his  mate  and  young ;  for  on  his 
first  arrival  he  is  rather  timid,  and  readily  dodges 
before  the  swallow  and  purple  marten.  Indeed,  at 
this  season  I  have  seen  the  spotted  sandpipers  drive 
28 


23 


S26  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

away  a  pair  of  King  Birds,  because  they  happened 
to  approach  the  premises  of  her  nest.     But  he  now 
becomes,  on  this  important  occasion,  so  tenacious  of 
his  rights  as  readily  to  commence  the  attack  against 
all   his   feathered   enemies,    and   he   passes    several 
months  of  the  summer  in  a  scene  of  almost  perpetual 
contest,  and   not  overrating   his   hostile  powers,  he 
generally   finds   means   to   come  off  with   impunity. 
Eagles,  hawks,  crows,  jays,  and  in  short  every  bird 
which  excites  his  suspicion,  by  their  intentional  or  ac 
cidental  approach,  are  attacked  with  skill  and  courage ; 
he  dives  upon  the  heads   and  backs  of  the  larger  in 
truders,  who  become  so  annoyed  and  tormented  as 
willingly  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat.     He  pursues 
his  foes  sometimes  for  a  mile ;  and  at  length,  assured 
of  conquest,  he  returns  to  his  prominent  watch-ground, 
again  quivering  his  wings  in  gratulation,  and  rapidly 
uttering   his   shrill   and   triumphant   notes.     He   is, 
therefore,  the  friend  of  the  farmer,  as  the  scourge  of 
the  pilferers   and  plunderers  of  his  crop  and  barn 
yard.     But  that  he  might  not  be  perfectly  harmless, 
he  has  sometimes   a  propensity  for  feeding  on  the 
valuable  tenants  of  the  bee  hive ;  for  these  he  watches, 
and  exultingly  twitters  at  the  prospect  of  success,  as 
they  wing  their  way  engaged  in  busy  employment; 
his  quick-sighted  eyes   now  follow  them,  until  one, 
more  suitable  than  the  rest,  becomes  his  favorite  mark. 
This  selected  victim  is  by  some  farmers  believed  to  be 
a  drone   rather  than   the   stinging   neutral  worker. 
The  selective  discernment  of  the  eyes  of  this  bird 
has  often  amused  me ;  berries  of  different  kinds,  held 
to  my  domestic  King  Bird,  however  similar,  were  re 
jected  or  snatched,  as  they  suited  his  instinct,  with 
the  nicest  discrimination." 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


327 


AMERICAN    ROBIN. 

The  American  Robin  ( Turdus  migratorius)  is  found 
in  California  and  Oregon. 

"  From  the  petulant  and  reiterated  chirp  so  com 
monly  uttered  by  the  Robin,  when  surprised  or  irri 
tated,  the  Indians  of  Hudson  Bay,  call  him,  from 
this  note,  Pee-pee-tshu.  They  often,  also,  utter  a 
loud  echoing,  'kh  'kh  'M,  and  sometimes  chirp  in  a 
high  or  slender  tone  when  alarmed,  and  with  an  affec 
tation  of  anger  sharply  flirt  the  tail  and  ends  of  the 
wings.  They  raise  several  broods  in  a  season,  and 
considerable  numbers  flock  together  in  the  latter  end 
of  summer  and  autumn.  When  feeding  on  cherries, 
poke,  sassafras,  and  sour-gum  berries,  they  are  so 
intent  as  to  be  easily  approached,  and  shot  down  in 
numbers  ;  and  when  fat,  are  justly  esteemed  for  food, 
and  often  brought  to  market.  In  the  spring  they  fre- 


328  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

quently  descend  to  the  ground  in  quest  of  worms  and 
insects,  which  then  constitute  their  principal  support. 

"  They  are  commonly  brought  up  in  the  cage,  and 
seem  very  docile  and  content.  They  sing  well,  readily 
learn  to  imitate  lively  parts  of  tunes,  and  some  have 
been  taught  to  pipe  forth  psalms  even  to  so  dull  and 
solemn  a  measure  as  that  of  "  Old  Hundred  /"  They 
acquire  also  a  considerable  taste  for  mimickry,  imitat 
ing  the  notes  of  most  of  the  birds  around  them,  such 
as  the  blue  bird,  pewee,  whip-poor-will,  and  others. 
On  being  approached  with  the  finger,  they  usually 
make  some  show  of  anger,  by  cracking  and  snapping 
the  bill.  At  times  they  become  very  tame,  and  will 
go  in  and  out  of  the  house  with  domestic  confidence, 
feel  uneasy  when  left  alone,  and  on  such  occasions, 
have  sometimes  the  sagacity  of  calling  attention  by 
articulating  endearing  words,  as,  pretty,  pretty,  &c., 
connecting,  apparently  with  these  expressions,  their 
general  import  of  attentive  blandishment.  They  be 
come  almost  naked  in  the  moulting  season,  in  which 
they  appear  to  suffer  considerably,  yet  have  been 
known  to  survive  for  seventeen  years  or  upwards.  The 
rufous  color  of  the  breast  becomes  deeper  in  those 
birds  which  thus  live  in  confinement.  Their  principal 
song  is  in  the  morning,  and  commences  before  sunrise, 
at  which  time  it  is  very  loud,  full  and  emphatic. 

"  This  bird,  according  to  Richardson,  inhabits  every 
part  of  the  fur  countries.  Nests  of  the  Robin  are 
found  as  high  as  the  67th  parallel ;  and  from  the 
reports  of  travellers  it  is  known  to  visit  the  north 
west  coast  of  America.  It  arrives  in  the  Missouri 
(in  lat.  41J°,)  from  the  eastward,  on  the  llth  of 
April ;  and  in  the  course  of  its  northerly  movement, 
visits  Severn  River,  in  Hudson  Bay,  about  a  fort- 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


329 


night  later.     On  the  7th  of  May,  in  1827,  it  was  seen 
at  Fort  Chepewyan,  in  lat.  58f  °,  and  in  the  distant 
parallel  of  65°,  at  Fort  Franklin,  on  the  20th  of  that 
month.     In  the -54th  degree,  they  begin  to  hatch  by 
the  end  of  May ;  but  11  degrees  farther  to  the  north, 
they  do  not  commence  incubation  until  the  llth  of 
June.      The   snow   even   then   partially   covers    the 
ground ;  but  there  are,  in  those  latitudes,  abundance 
of  the   berries   of    the   alpine   arbutus,    crow-berry, 
(IBmpetrum   nigrum^)  whortle-berry   and   cow-berry, 
(Vaccinium  uliginosum,  and  V.  Vitis  idoea^  besides 
those  of  some  other  plants,  which,  after  having  been 
frozen  up  all  the  winter,  are  exposed,  on  the  melting 
of  the  snow,  again  to  view,  full  of  juice,  and  retain 
ing  their  original  flavor.     Dr.  Richardson  remarks, 
that  the  notes  of  the  Robin  "  resemble  those  of  the 
common   thrush  (Turdus  musicus),  but   are   not  so 
loud.     Within  the  Arctic  circle  the  woods  are  silent 
in  the  bright  light  of  noon-day,  but  towards  midnight, 
when  the  sun  travels  near  the  horizon,  and  the  shades 
of  the  forest  are  lengthened,  the  concert  commences, 
and  continues  till  six  or  seven  in  the  morning.     Even 
in  those  remote  regions,  the  mistake  of  those  natu 
ralists  who  have  asserted  that  the  feathered  tribes  of 
America  are  void  of  harmony  might  be  fully  dis 
proved.     Indeed,  the  transition  is  so  sudden  from  the 
perfect  repose,   the    death-like   silence   of   an   arctic 
winter,  to  the  animated  bustle  of  summer ;  the  trees 
spread  their  foliage  with  such  magic  rapidity,   and 
every  succeeding  morning  opens  with  such  agreeable 
accessions  of  feathered  songsters  to  swell  the  chorus — 
their  plumage  as  gay  and  unimpaired  as  when  they 
enlivened  the  deep-green  forests  of  tropical  climes, 
that  the  return  of  a  northern  spring  excites  in  the 
28* 


330 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


mind  a  deep  feeling  of  the  beauties  of  the  season,  a 
sense  of  the  bounty  and  providence  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  which  is  cheaply  purchased  by  the  tedium  of 
nine  months  winter.  The  most  verdant  lawns  and 
cultivated  glades  of  Europe,  the  most  beautiful  pro 
ductions  of  art,  fail  in  producing  that  exhilaration 
and  joyous  buoyancy  of  mind  which  we  have  expe 
rienced  in  treading  the  wilds  of  Arctic  America,  when 
their  snowy  covering  has  just  been  replaced  by  an 
infant  but  vigorous  vegetation.'  " 


THE   CAT   BIRD. 


The  Cat  Bird  (Mimus  Felivox)  is  found  in  various 
parts  of  California.  This  quaint  and  familiar  song 
ster  passes  the  winter  in  the  southern  extremities  of 
the  United  States,  and  along  the  coast  of  Mexico, 
from  whence,  as  early  as  February,  they  arrive  in 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


33X 


Georgia.  About  the  middle  of  April  they  are  first 
seen  in  Pennsylvania,  and  at  length  leisurely  approach 
this  part  of  New  England,  by  the  close  of  the  first  or 
beginning  of  the  second  week  in  May.  They  con 
tinue  their  migration  also  to  Canada;  where  they 
proceed  into  the  fur-countries  as  far  as  the  45th 
parallel,  arriving  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
about  the  close  of  May.  They  are  said  also  to  in 
habit  Kamtschatka,  and  consequently  penetrate  very 
far  to  the  north.  Throughout  this  extent,  and  to  the 
territory  of  the  Mississippi,  they  likewise  pass  the 
period  of  incubation  and  rearing  their  young.  They 
remain  in  New  England  till  about  the  middle  of  Octo 
ber,  at  which  time  the  young  feed  principally  upon 
wild  berries. 

The  Cat-Bird  often  tunes  his  cheerful  song  before 
the  break  of  day,  hopping  from  bush  to  bush,  with 
great  agility  after  his  insect  prey,  while  yet  scarcely 
distinguishable  amidst  the  dusky  shadows  of  the  dawn. 
The  notes  of  different  individuals  vary  considerably, 
so  that  sometimes  his  song,  in  sweetness  and  compass, 
is  scarcely  at  all  inferior  to  that  of  the  ferruginous 
thrush.  A  quaintness,  however,  prevails  in  all  his 
efforts,  and  his  song  is  frequently  made  up  of  short 
and  blended  imitations  of  other  birds,  given  however, 
with  great  emphasis,  melody,  and  variety  of  tone; 
and,  like  the  nightingale,  invading  the  hours  of  re 
pose,  in  the  late  twilight  of  a  summer's  evening,  when 
scarce  another  note  is  heard,  but  the  hum  of  the 
drowsy  beetle,  his  music  attains  its  full  effect,  and 
often  rises  and  falls  with  all  the  swell  and  studied 
cadence  of  finished  harmony.  During  the  heat  of 
the  day,  or  laie  in  the  morning,  the  variety  of  his 


332  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

song  declines,  or  he  pursues  his  employment  in  silence 
and  retirement. 

Of  the  other  birds  of  the  Thrush  genus,  the  Brown 
Thrush,  (Orpheus  JRufua),  the  Varied  Thrush  (Tur- 
dus  Nsevius),  very  similar  to  the  American  robin,  the 
Wood  Thrush  ( Turdus  Mustelinus),  the  Dwarf  Thrush 
(Turdus  Nanus),  Wilson's  Thrush  ( Wilsonii\  and  the 
Western  Thrush  (Turdus  Cestulatus\  have  all  been 
observed  by  Mr.  Townsend  and  others  in  Oregon  and 
California. 

Of  the  Sylvicola  there  are  several  species  in  this 
region,  such  as  the  Myrtle  Bird,  (Sylvicola  coronata,) 
Audubon's  Warbler  (Sylvicola  Auduboni),  and  the 
Summer  Yellow  Bird,  (Sylvicola  destiva.)  On  the 
geographical  distribution  of  this  bird  Mr.  Nuttall  has 
the  following  remarks : 


SUMMER   YELLOW   BIRD. 


This  very  common  and  brilliant  summer  species  is 
found  in  all  parts  of  the  American  continent  from  the 
confines  of  the  arctic  circle  to  Florida  and  Texas,  as 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


333 


well  as  Oregon  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  where  it 
spends  the  mild  season.  About  the  middle  of  March, 
I  already  heard  their  song  amidst  the  early  blooming 
thickets  and  leafy  woods  of  the  Altamaha ;  but  they 
do  not  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  this  part  of  New 
England  before  the  1st  of  May.  About  the  close  of 
August  in  the  northern,  and  by  the  middle  of  Septem 
ber  in  the  central  States  of  the  Union,  or  as  soon  as 
their  second  brood  are  capable  of  joining  the  migrating 
host,  they  disappear,  probably  in  the  twilight,  and 
wing  their  way  by  easy  stages  to  their  tropical  desti 
nation,  passing  through  Louisiana  in  October,  and 
appearing  at  length,  about  Vera  Cruz,  from  whence 
they  spread  their  numerous  host  through  tropical 
America  to  Guiana,  Cayenne,  St.  Domingo,  and  other 
of  the  larger  contiguous  islands  of  the  West  Indies. 

Mr.  Nuttall  also  places  in  California  and  Oregon, 
the  Blue  Mountain  Warbler  (Sylvicola  montana),  the 
Hermit  Warbler  (Sylvicola  Occidentalis),  Townsend's 
Warbler,  (Sylvicola  Townsendi,)  and  that  sweet 
songster,  the  Maryland  Yellow  Throat,  (Trichas 
Marylandica.)  He  says  in  relation  to  the  Yellow 
Throat : 

This  common  and  familiar  species  extends  its  sum 
mer  migrations  from  Florida  to  Nova  Scotia,  arriving 
in  Pennsylvania  towards  the  middle  of  April,  and  in 
this  part  of  New  England  about  the  first  week  in  May. 
They  return  to  the  south  in  September ;  a  few  strag 
glers  of  the  young,  however,  may  be  seen  to  the  first 
week  in  October,  and  though  some  may  remain  and 
winter  in  the  Southern  States,  it  is  more  probable 
that  the  main  body  retire  at  this  season  into  the  in 
terior  of  tropical  America  ;  as  they  were  seen  late  in 
.  autumn,  around  Vera  Cruz,  by  the  naturalist  and 


334 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


YELLOW  THROAT. 

traveller  Mr.  Bullock.  Early  in  the  month  of  March, 
however,  I  heard  this  species  singing  in  the  forests  of 
West  Florida.  They  also  exist  in  the  territory  of 
Oregon,  where  Mr.  Townsend  obtained  specimens. 
We  met  with  them  on  Lewis's  River,  of  the  Shoshonee 
in  the  centre  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  chain. 

The  Maryland  Yellow  Throat,  with  cheerful  devoted- 
ness  to  the  great  object  of  his  summer  migration,  the 
attachments  and  cares  of  his  species,  passes  his  time 
near  some  shady  rill  of  water,  amidst  briers,  brambles, 
alders,  and  such  other  shrubbery  as  grow  in  low  and 
watery  situations.  Unambitious  to  be  seen,  he  seldom 
ascends  above  the  tops  of  the  underwood,  where  he 
dwells  busily  employed  in  collecting  the  insects  on 
which  he  feeds.  After  these,  like  the  wren,  he  darts 
into  the  deepest  thicket,  and  threads  his  devious  way 
through  erery  opening ;  he  searches  around  the  stems, 
examines  beneath  the  leaves,  and  raising  himself  on 
his  peculiarly  pale  and  slender  legs,  peeps  into  each 
crevice  in  order  to  seize  by  surprise  his  tiny  lurking 
prey. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


335 


SHORE   LARK. 

Among  the  different  species  of  Larks  found  in  Cali 
fornia,  the  most  beautiful  is  the  Shore  Lark,  (Alauda 
Alpestris.) 

This  beautiful  species,  says  Nuttall,  is  common  to 
the  north  of  both  the  old  and  new  continent,  but,  as 
in  some  other  instances  already  remarked,  the  Shore 
Lark  extends  its  migrations  much  further  over  America 
than  over  Europe  and  Asia.  Our  bird  was  met  with 
in  the  Arctic  regions  by  the  late  adventurous  voyagers, 
and  Mr.  Bullock  saw  them  in  the  winter  around  the 
city  of  Mexico,  so  that  in  their  migrations  over  this 
continent  they  spread  themselves  across  the  whole 
habitable  northern  hemisphere  to  the  very  equator ; 
while  in  Europe,  according  to  the  careful  observations 
of  Temminck,  they  are  unknown  to  the  south  of  Ger 
many.  Pallas  met  with  these  birds  round  Lake  Baikal 
and  on  the  Wolga,  in  the  53d  degree  of  latitude. 
Westward  they  have  also  been  seen  in  the  interior  of 
the  United  States,  along  the  shores  of  the  Missouri. 

Inseparable  in  all  their  movements,  like  the  hen 


336  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

and  her  fostered  chickens,  they  roost  together  in  a 
close  ring  or  company,  by  the  mere  edge  of  some 
sheltering  weed  or  tuft  of  grass  on  the  dry  and  gravelly 
ground ;  and,  thickly  and  warmly  clad,  they  abide  the 
frost  and  the  storm  with  hardy  indifference.  They 
fly  rather  high  and  loose,  in  scattered  companies,  and 
follow  no  regular  time  of  migration,  but  move  onward 
only  as  their  present  resources  begin  to  fail.  They 
are  usually  fat,  esteemed  as  food,  and  are  frequently 
seen  exposed  for  sale  in  our  markets.  Their  diet,  as 
usual,  consists  of  various  kinds  of  seeds  which  still 
remain  on  the  grass  and  weeds  they  frequent,  and 
they  swallow  a  considerable  portion  of  gravel  to  assist 
their  digestion.  They  also  collect  the  eggs  and  larvae 
of  insects  when  they  fall  in  their  way. 

The  Snow  Bunting  (Emberiza  nivalis),  and  the 
Red-winged  Blackbird  or  Troopial  (Icterus  phoeni- 
ceus^  are  found  in  various  parts  of  California. 

The  Red-winged  Troopial  in  summer  inhabits  the 
whole  of  North  America  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Mexico, 
and  is  found  in  the  interior  from  the  53d  degree  across 
the  whole  continent  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  and 
along  the  coast  as  far  as  California.  They  are  migra 
tory  north  of  Maryland,  but  pass  the  winter  and  sum 
mer  in  great  numbers  in  all  the  southern  States, 
frequenting  chiefly  the  settlements  and  rice  and  corn 
fields,  towards  the  sea-coast,  where  they  move  about 
like  blackening  clouds,  rising  suddenly  at  times  with 
a  noise  like  thunder,  and  exhibiting  amidst  the  broad 
shadows  of  their  funeral  plumage,  the  bright  flashing 
of  the  vermilion  with  which  their  wings  are  so  singu 
larly  decorated.  After  whirling  and  waving  a  little 
distance,  like  the  starling,  they  descend  as  a  torrent, 
and  darkening  the  branches  of  the  trees  by  their  num- 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


337 


RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 

bers,  they  commence  a  general  concert  that  may  be 
heard  for  more  than  two  miles.  This  music  seems  to 
be  something  betwixt  chattering  and  warbling ;  jing 
ling  liquid  notes  like  those  of  the  bobolink  with 
their  peculiar  kong-quer-ree  and  bob  a  lee,  o-bob  a  lee  ; 
then  complaining  chirps,  jars,  and  sounds  like  saw- 
filing,  or  the  motion  of  a  sign-board  on  its  rusty  hinge, 
the  whole  constituting  a  novel  and  sometimes  grand 
chorus  of  discord  and  harmony,  in  which  the  perform 
ers,  seem  in  good  earnest,  and  bristle  up  their  feathers, 
as  if  inclined,  at  least,  to  make  up  in  quantity  what 
their  show  of  music  may  lack  in  quality. 

When  their  food  begins  to  fail  in  the  fields,  they 
assemble  with  the  purple  grakles,  very  familiarly 
around  the  corn-cribs  and  in  the  barn-yards,  greedily 
and  dexterously  gleaning  up  every  thing  within  their 
reach.  In  the  month  of  March,  Mr.  Bullock  found 
them  very  numerous  and  bold  near  the  city  of  Mexico, 
29 


338 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


where  they  followed  mules  to  steal  a  tithe  of  their 
barley. 

The  Whitewinged  Crowbill  (Loxia  Leucoptera\  is 
found  in  the  pine  and  hemlock  forests,  subsisting  on 
the  seeds  obtained  from  the  pine  cones. 


THE   RAVEN. 

The  Raven  (Oorvus  Cor  ax),  common  to  both  conti 
nents  is  found  here.  Though  spread  over  the  whole 
world,  says  Nuttall,  Ravens  are  rarely  ever  birds  of 
passage,  enduring  the  winters  even  of  the  arctic  circle, 
or  the  warmth  of  Mexico,  St.  Domingo,  and  Madagas 
car.  They  are  particularly  attached  to  the  rocky 
eyries  where  they  have  been  bred  and  paired.  Through 
out  the  year  they  are  observed  together  in  nearly 
equal  numbers,  and  they  never  entirely  abandon  this 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


839 


adopted  home.  If  they  descend  into  the  plain,  it  is 
to  collect  subsistence  ;  but  they  resort  to  the  low 
grounds  more  in  winter  than  summer,  as  they  avoid 
the  heat  and  dislike  to  wander  from  their  cool  retreats. 
They  never  roost  in  the  woods  like  crows;  and  have 
sufficient  sagacity  to  choose  in  their  rocky  retreats  a 
situation  defended  from  the  winds  of  the  north,  com 
monly  under  the  natural  vault  formed  by  an  extend 
ing  ledge  or  cavity  of  the  rock.  Here  they  retire 
during  the  night  in  companies  of  fifteen  to  twenty. 
They  perch  upon  the  bushes  which  grow  straggling  in 
the  clefts  of  the  rocks  ;  but  they  form  their  nests  in 
the  rocky  crevices,  or  in  the  holes  of  the  mouldering 
walls,  at  the  summits  of  ruined  towers ;  and  sometimes 
upon  the  high  branches  of  large  and  solitary  trees. 
After  they  have  paired,  their  fidelity  appears  to  con 
tinue  through  life.  The  male  expresses  his  attachment 
by  a  particular  strain  of  croaking,  and  they  are  often 
observed  caressing  by  approaching  their  bills,  with  as 
much  semblance  of  affection  as  the  truest  turtle  doves. 

The  Crow  (Corvus  corone)  is  also  abundant  in  Ca 
lifornia.  The  Magpie  (Corvus  pica)  is  a  California 
bird. 

This  bird,  says  Nuttall,  is  much  more  common  in 
Europe  than  in  America,  being  confined  in  this  coun 
try  to  the  northern  regions,  and  to  the  plains  and 
table  lands  or  steppes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  Thence  they  continue  to  the 
banks  of  the  Columbia,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of 
northern  and  temperate  Asia,  are  found  in  Kams- 
chatka,  Japan,  and  China.  They  are  sometimes  met 
with  as  far  down  the  Missouri  as  Boonsborouo-h  in  the 

o 

severity  of  winter,  driven  from  the  western  wilder 
ness,  only  by  the  imperious  calls  of  hunger.  In 


340 


HISTOBY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


THE   MAGPIE. 

summer  they  are  so  rare,  even  in  the  Missouri  terri 
tory,  that  from  March  to  October,  and  from  St.  Louis 
to  the  trading  house  at  the  Mandans,  a  distance  by 
the  river  of  sixteen  hundred  miles,  a  party  of  near 
seventy  men,  attended  by  constant  hunters,  never  met 
with  a  single  Pie,  nor  were  any  appearances  of  their 
nests  any  where  visible.     Eleven  hundred  miles  up  the 
Arkansas,  and  more  than  one  thousand  up  the  Red 
River,  countries  which.  I  visited  in  summer,  never  pre 
sented  a  specimen  of  this  otherwise  familiar  and  rov 
ing  bird.     The  season  of  incubation  with  the  Ameri 
can  Pies,  so  different  from  their  familiar  habits  in  the 
old  continent,  is  passed,  no  doubt,  in  the  wooded  re 
cesses  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  abound  with 
berries  and  acorns,  and  with  small  birds  and  their 
eggs.     They  are  known  to  make  so  great  a  destruc 
tion  among  the  eggs  of  grouse,  pheasants,  partridges, 
and  even  among  young  chickens,  in  many  parts  of 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


341 


Europe,  as  to  be  proscribed  by  law,  and  destroyed  for 
the  premium  justly  set  upon  their  heads.  The  ab 
sence  of  food  and  shelter  for  their  nests  in  summer, 
suitable  for  the  Magpie,  on  the  vast  prairies  of  the 
Arkansas  andlVlissouri,  particularly  in  the  dry  deserts 
at  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  will  probably 
continue  as  a  perpetual  barrier  to  the  eastern  migra 
tions  of  this  mischievous  species,  whose  means  of 
flight  and  travelling  are  still  more  circumscribed  than 
those  of  the  common  crow.  They  consequently  ex 
perience  annually,  in  the  terrible  vicissitudes  of  cli 
mate  incident  to  the  countries  they  inhabit;  like  the 
Esquimaux  of  the  Arctic  regions,  either  a  feast  or  a 
famine,  and  are  rendered  so  bold  and  voracious  by 
want,  that  in  the  vicinity  of  the  northern  Andes, 
towards  New  Mexico,  Colonel  Pike  was  visited  by 
them  in  the  month  of  December,  in  latitude  41°, 
while  the  thermometer  was  at  the  dreadful  line  of  IV0 
below  zero,  on  the  scale  of  Reaumur.  They  now 
assembled  round  the  miserable  party  in  great  numbers 
for  the  purpose  of  picking  the  sore  backs  of  their 
perishing  horses,  and,  like  the  vulture  of  Prometheus, 
they  did  not  await  the  death  of  the  subjects  they  tor 
mented,  but  fed  upon  them  still  living,  till  their  flesh 
was  raw  and  bleeding.  They  were  so  bold  and 
familiar  as  to  alight  on  the  men's  arms,  and  eat  flesh 
out  of  their  hands.* 

To  the  party  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  the  Magpies 
were  also  very  familiar  and  voracious,  so  that  they 
penetrated  into  their  tents,  and  without  ceremony, 
like  the  harpies  of  Virgil,  snatched  the  meat  even 
from  the  dishes,  preferring  the  chance  of  any  death 


*  Pike's  Journal,  p.  170. 

29* 


24 


342 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


BLUE  JAY. 

to  that  of  hunger.  They  were  also  frequent  attend 
ants  on  the  hunters,  and  while  these  were  engaged  in 
dressing  and  skinning  their  game,  the  Pies  would 
venture  to  seize  the  meat  suspended  within  a  foot  or 
two  of  their  heads. 

The  Blue  Jay  (Garrulus  cristatus)  and  the  (Grarru- 
lus  Stelleri)  according  to  Farnham,  are  quite  common. 

Of  the  Woodpeckers,  the  ( Oolaptes  Mexicanus),  and 
the  Flicker  or  Golden- winged  Woodpecker,  (Oolaptes 
auratus),  are  the  only  ones  found  in  California. 

The  latter  breeds  and  inhabits  throughout  North 
America,  from  Labrador  and  the  remotest  wooded 
regions  of  the  fur  countries  to  Florida,  being  partially 
migratory  only  from  Canada  and  the  Northern  States, 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


343 


FLICKER. 

proceeding  to  the  south  in  October,  and  returning 
north  in  April.  From  the  great  numbers  seen  in  the 
Southern  States  in  winter,  it  is  evident  that  the  prin 
cipal  part  of  the  species  migrate  thither  from  the 
North  and  West  to  pass  the  inclement  season,  which 
naturally  deprives  them  of  the  means  of  acquiring  their 
usual  sustenance.  At  this  time  also  they  feed  much 
on  winter  berries,  such  as  those  of  the  sumach,  smilax, 
and  misseltoe.  In  the  Middle  States,  some  of  these 
birds  find  the  means  of  support  through  the  most  in 
clement  months  of  the  winter.  In  New  England,  they 
reappear  about  the  beginning  of  April,  soon  after 
which  they  commence  to  pair  and  build  ;  for  this  pur- 


344  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

pose  they  often  make  choice  of  the  trunk  of  a  decayed 
apple  or  forest  tree,  at  different  heights  from  the 
ground.  When  an  accidental  cavity  is  not  conveniently 
found,  confident  in  the  formidable  means  provided 
them  by  nature,  with  no  other  aid  than  the  bill,  they 
have  been  known  to  make  a  winding  burrow  through 
a  solid  oak  for  fifteen  inches  in  length.  At  this  labor, 
for  the  greater  security  and  privacy,  they  continue  till 
late  in  the  evening,  and  may  be  heard  dealing  blows 
as  loud  and  successive  as  if  aided  by  the  tools  of  the 
carpenter. 

Mr.  Farnham  says  that  he  saw  but  two  species  of 
Humming  Birds  in  California.  One  of  these,  the 
Trochilus  rufus,  he  describes  as  a  delicate,  splendid 
little  creature,  less  than  the  common  species,  and  the 
most  perfect  gem  in  nature.  When  glancing  through 
the  trees  it  resembles  the  flash  of  a  large  ruby. 

The  Northern  Humming  Bird  ( Trochilus  colubris) 
is  the  other  kind  noticed  by  Mr.  Farnham. 

This  wonderfully  diminutive  and  brilliant  bird,  says 
Nuttall,  is  the  only  one  of  an  American  genus,  of  more 
than  one  hundred  species,  which  ventures  beyond  the 
limit  of  tropical  climates.  Its  approaches  towards  the 
north  are  regulated  by  the  advances  of  the  season. 
Fed  on  the  honeyed  sweets  of  flowers,  it  is  an  exclusive 
attendant  on  the  varied  bounties  of  Flora.  By  the 
10th  to  the  20th  of  March,  it  is  already  seen  in  the 
mild  forests  of  Louisiana,  and  the  warmer  maritime 
districts  of  Georgia,  where  the  embowering  and  fra 
grant  Grelsemium  (Carolina  Jessamine),  the  twin- 
leaved  Bignonia,  and  the  white-robed  Mylocarium, 
with  a  host  of  daily  expanding  flowers,  invite  our  little 
sylvan  guest  to  the  retreats  he  had  reluctantly  for 
saken.  Desultory  in  his  movements,  roving  only 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


345 


NORTHERN  HUMMING  BIRD. 

through  the  region  of  blooming  sweets,  his  visits  to 
the  Northern  States  are  delayed  to  the  month  of  May. 
Still  later,  as  if  determined  that  no  flower  shall 
"blush  unseen,  or  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert 
air,"  our  little  sylph.,  on  wings  as  rapid  as  the  wind, 
at  once  launches  without  hesitation  into  the  flowery 
wilderness  which  borders  on  the  arctic  circle.  Accord 
ing  to  Richardson,  this  species  frequents  the  fur  coun 
tries  up  to  the  57th  parallel,  and  Mr.  Drummond 
found  a  nest  of  the  Humming  Bird  near  the  sources 
of  Elk  River  in  the  remote  interior  of  the  north,  and 
we  met  with  it  on  Lewis's  River  of  the  Shoshone,  in 
the  latter  part  of  July. 

Of  Swallows,   Mr.    Farnham   mentions   the  Cliff 


346 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


THE  BARN  SWALLOW. 

Swallow  (Hirundo  Lunifrons\  the  Bank  Swallow 
(Hirundo  riparia\  and  the  Barn  Swallow  (Hirundo 
Americana.}  Of  this  bird  Mr.  Nuttall  says  : 

Their  northern  migration  extends  to  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  fur 
countries,  where  distant  from  the  habitations  of  man 
they  inhabit  caves,  particularly  those  in  the  limestone 
rocks.  They  retire  from  Massachusetts  about  the 
18th  of  September,  and  are  observed,  in  the  same 
month  and  in  October,  passing  over  the  peninsula  of 
Florida  on  their  way  to  tropical  America,  where  they 
probably  pass  the  winter.  I  have  seen  a  straggling 
pair  in  this  vicinity  even  on  the  15th  of  October.  In 
the  months  of  January  and  February  the  common 
Chimney  Swallow  of  Europe  has  been  observed  to 
moult,  by  Mr.  Pearson  of  London,  and  Mr.  Natterer 
of  Vienna ;  with  the  latter  they  survived  in  cages,  to 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


347 


which  they  are  easily  reconciled,  for  eight  or  nine 
years,  and  showed  no  propensity  to  torpidity.  The 
fleetness  with  which  they  move,  and  the  peculiarity  of 
their  insect  fate,  are  circumstances  which  would  impel 
a  prompt  transition  to  more  favorable  climates.  Acci 
dental  fits  of  torpidity,  like  those  which  occasionally 
and  transiently  take  place  with  the  Humming  Bird, 
have  undoubtedly  happened  to  Swallows,  without 
proving  any  thing  against  the  general  migrating 
instinct  of  the  species. 

The  Kingfisher  (Aleedo  Alcyon),  is  very  common  on 
the  banks  of  the  rivers  and  water-courses  of  California. 
The  Night  Hawk  (Caprimulgus  Virginianus),  is  also 
common. 


RUFFED  GROUSE. 

Mr.  Farnham  says  that  there  is  probably  no  coun 
try  in  the  world  which  produces  so  many  varieties  of 
the  Grouse,  and  in  so  great  numbers  as  California. 
The  Great  Cock  of  the  Plains  (Tetrao  Urophasianus), 
second  only  in  size  and  beauty  to  the  cock  of  the 
woods  of  Europe,  is  plentiful  in  Northern  California. 
He  is  thirty  inches  long,  nearly  four  feet  in  extent, 
and  weighs  from  seven  to  ten  pounds.  The  Dusky 


348  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Grouse  ( Tetrao  Olscurus\  less  than  the  preceding  in 
size,  and  the  Rock  Grouse  (Tetrao  rupestris),  is  also 
common  in  the  mountainous  regions.  Also  the 
Ruffed  Grouse  (Tetrao  umbellas),  called  in  the  South 
ern  States,  Pheasant,  and  in  the  Northern  States,  the 
Partridge,  is  found  here.  The  White-tailed  Grouse 
(Tetrao  Leucurus),  is  common  in  different  places,  as 
also  the  Pinnated  Grouse  (Tetrao  cupido^)  called  the 
Prairie  Hen,  of  which  species  the  male  has  a  singular 
wing-like  appendage  to  the  neck. 


PINNATED  GROUSE. 

There  are  also  several  species  of  the  Quail  in  Cali 
fornia.  Of  the  common  Quail,  called  in  the  Middle 
States  the  Partridge  (Ortyx  Virginana),  Nuttallsays: 

The  Partridge  of  America,  exceedingly  prolific,  has 
extended  its  colonies  from  the  inclement  coasts  of 
New  England  and  the  western  plains  of  Missouri  to 
the  mild  latitudes  of  Mexico  and  Honduras.  In 
Jamaica,  where  it  has  long  been  introduced  and  natu 
ralized,  the  inhabitants  distinguish  it  as  the  Partridge, 
an  appellation  sufficiently  prevalent  in  various  parts 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


349 


QUAIL. 

of  the  United  States.  At  the  north,  this  species  is 
rarely  seen  to  the  extremity  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
this  limit,  no  doubt,  is  determined  by  the  length  and 
severity  of  the  winters  which  prevail  in  this  rigorous 
climate.  They  seldom  migrate,  except  to  short  dis 
tances,  in  quest  of  food,  and  consequently,  often  perish 
beneath  deep  drifts  of  snow,  so  that  their  existence  is 
rendered  impossible  in  the  arctic  winters  of  our  high- 
latitudes.  Indeed,  sometimes  they  have  been  so 
thinned  in  this  part  of  the  country,  that  sportsmen, 
acquainted  with  their  local  attachments,  have  been 
known  to  introduce  them  into  places  for  breeding  and 
to  prevent  their  threatened  extermination.  So  seden 
tary  are  the  habits  of  this  interesting  bird,  that  until 
the  flock  is  wholly  routed  by  the  unfeeling  hunter, 
they  continue  faithfully  attached  to  the  neighborhood 
of  the  spot  where  they  have  been  raised  and  supported. 
Besides  this  species  there  are  several  which  appear 
30 


350  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 


CALIFORNIA  QUAIL. 

to  be  peculiar  to  California.  The  California  Crested 
Quail  (Lopliortyx  CaUfornica),  is  thus  noticed  by 
Nuttall : 

This  species,  discovered  by  Menzies,  is  wholly  con 
fined  to  the  west  side  of  the  northern  Andes,  and  is 
common  throughout  the  provinces  of  Upper  California, 
and  the  territory  of  the  Oregon. 

In  small  flocks  and  pairs  they  are  abundant  in 
Upper  California,  and  are  sometimes  so  gentle  and 
confidant,  as  to  show  but  little  alarm  when  approached. 
Its  manners  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  common 
American  Partridge.  The  males  in  spring  are  often 
seen  perched  on  low  bushes,  where  they  utter  for  hours 
their  peculiar  almost  crowing  call,  and  in  the  same 
quaint  voice  with  its  eastern  prototype. 

A  day  or  two  after  my  arrival  at  Monterey  in  Cali 
fornia,  in  the  evening,  returning  from  a  walk,  I  heard, 
as  I  thought,  some  Indians  or  boys  calling  out  in  a 
loud  strain  ;  but  soon  found  that  this  cry  was  answered 
at  small  distances  like  the  crowing  of  fowls.  It  was, 
in  fact,  the  call  of  the  Tufted  Californian  Quail, 
"k'h,  k'h  Jc'h  Jc'h."  About  the  middle  of  April,  in 
the  plains  round  the  port  of  St.  Diego,  this  species 
was  very  abundant ;  and  every  now  and  then  in  the 
day,  the  male,  perched  on  some  low  bush  or  hillock, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  351 

was  heard  calling  out,  rather  quickly,  ~ke  Jcai  Jcoo, 
Tc'kaiJcoo,  which  was  usually  answered  by  some  other 
males,  to  the  right  and  left,  who  were  within  hearing. 
At  this  time  they  were  paired.  About  the  middle  of 
the  day,  we  sometimes  surprised  small  flocks  basking 
and  scratching  in  the  shade  of  the  bushes. 

Mr.  Townsend  met  with  small  coveys  of  the  Plumed 
Quail  (Lopliortyx  Plumiferd),  in  the  woods  near  the 
Columbia  River.  It  is  probably  more  common  in 
Upper  California;  and  Douglas's  Crested  Quail 
(Lopliortyx  Douglasi),  and  the  elegant  crested  Quail 
Lopliortyx  elegans,  have  both  been  found  in  Upper 
California. 

The  bays,  inlets,  and  rivers,  says  Mr.  Farnham, 
are  well  stocked  with  different  species  of  water  birds, 
and  the  low  lands  near  the  outlets  of  some  of  the 
streams  on  the  Pacific  coast  actually  swarm  with 
geese,  widgeons,  teal,  cranes,  curlews,  ^snipes,  and 
various  other  waders  and  swimmers. 

The  Wild  Swan  (Cygnus  ferus\  is  the  largest  of 
these  water  birds.  They  are  by  far  the  largest  of  the 
web-footed  water-fowl,  and  their  plumage  throughout 
is  of  the  purest  white.  The  neck  is  not  more  remark 
able  for  its  extreme  length  than  for  its  majestic  per 
sonation  of  the  line  of  beauty ;  its  bill,  slightly  hooked 
at  the  point,  of  a  black  color,  without  a  tubercle,  is 
all  of  an  equal  breadth,  only  higher  than  it  is  wide  at 
the  base ;  the  feet  are  black.  The  young,  pale  ash  color. 
The  male  is  upwards  of  five  feet  in  length,  and  more 
than  eight  in  the  expanse  of  its  wings ;  its  usual 
weight  averages  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  pounds, 
and  sometimes  it  will  even  reach  thirty ;  the  female  is 
smaller  in  size.  In  former  days,  swans  as  well  as 
peacocks  were  served  up  at  the  tables  of  the  great ; 


352 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


WILD  SWAN. 

but  both  have  now  disappeared  from  our  feasts,  and 
are  retained  only  for  their  beauty,  their  flesh  at  best 
being  dry  and  hard  when  the  birds  are  full-grown ;  yet 
cygnets  are  still  occasionally  used,  but  certainly  more 
for  show  than  taste,  as  they  are  not  at  all  comparable 
to  a  good  barn-yard  chicken.  The  swan  is  a  long- 
lived  bird,  but  it  is  disputed  whether  the  traditionary 
accounts  which  allot  it  a  term  of  more  than  a  century 
be  correct ;  about  half  that  period  may  perhaps  be  its 
legitimate  boundary.  The  Swan  lives  almostentirely 
upon  the  water,  and  feeds  chiefly  upon  aquatic 
plants,  yet  varying  its  vegetable  diet  with  frogs  and 
insects. 

The  Trumpeter  Swan  (Oygnm  buccinator],  is  more 
common.  It  is  from  this  kind  that  the  bulk  of  the 
swan-skins  imported  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  are 
obtained.  Douglas  mentions  a  third  kind  equal  in 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


353 


size  to  the  common  swan,  and  of  a  bluish-gray  color 
on  the  back  and  white  on  the  belly. 

Mr.  Farnham  gives  the  following  species  of  geese. 
The  Laughing  Goose  (Anser  albifrons),  the  Snow 
Goose  (Anser  hypoboreus),  the  Common  Wild  Goose 
(Anser  Canadensis\  and  the  Brant  Goose  (Anser 
bernacla.) 


THE   COMMON   WILD   GOOSE. 

The  Common  Wild  Goose,  or  Canada  Goose,  is 
larger  than  the  tame  goose,  and  slender  in  its  make. 
The  back  and  upper  parts  of  the  body  are  brown, 
with  white  spots;  the  head  and  neck  black,  with  a 
conspicuous  white  patch  on  the  throat  and  lower  part 
of  the  cheeks ;  the  bill  is  black  and  the  feet  lead 
colored.  It  is  not,  however,  confined  to  Canada,  but 
extends  its  migrations  from  the  southernmost  borders 
of  the  United  States  to  the  most  northern  points  that 
30* 


354  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

have  been  reached  by  man  ;  and  they  are  marked  by 
the  swiftness  of  their  flight,  and  the  height  to  which 
they  soar : 

"  Vainly  the  fowler's  eye, 

Might  mark  thy  distant  flight,  to  do  thee  wrong; 
As  darkly  painted  on  the  crimson  sky. 

Thy  figure  floats  along. 
"  Seek'st  thou  the  plashy  brink, 
Of  weedy  lake,  or  merge  of  river  wide ; 
Or  where  the  rocking  billows  rise  and  sink 

On  the  chaffed  ocean  side ; 
"  There  is  a  Power,  whose  care 
Teaches  thy  way  along  the  pathless  coast, 
The  desert  and  illimitable  air, 

Lone  wandering,  but  not  lost. 
"  Thou'rt  gone !  thy  abyss  of  heaven 
Hath  swallowed  up  thy  form!" 


If  few,  they  fly  in  one  line,  but  if  numerous,  in 
two,  converging  to  a  point  like  the  letter  A  turned 
upside  down,  and  they  are  always  led  by  an  old  ex 
perienced  gander.  They  make  their  appearance  in 
Hudson  Bay  in  spring,  going  north,  where  great 
quantities  are  taken,  and  salted  for  a  winter's  store ; 
and  on  their  return  in  winter,  they  are  killed  and 
frozen  up  for  fresh  provisions.  They  are  easily 
domesticated,  and  readily  pair  with  the  common  gray 
goose ;  but  their  wings  must  be  cut  to  prevent  their 
absconding,  for  on  the  approach  of  spring  they  are 
always  observed  to  become  restless  and  uneasy,  fre 
quently  looking  up  into  the  air,  making  attempts  to 
fly  away,  and  hailing  every  flock  of  their  wild 
brethren  that  passes  over  their  heads,  who  always  ac 
knowledge  and  return  the  salute. 

The  Barnacle  Goose,  or  Brant  Goose,  is  common 
to  the  northern  regions  of  both  continents,  emigrat 
ing  to  more  temperate  climates  in  autumn  and  winter. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


355 


BRANT    GOOSE. 

The  most  ridiculous  fables  have  'been  invented  con 
cerning  the  origin  of  this  bird,  which  was  long  be 
lieved  to  be  the  produce  of  a  kind  of  shells,  hence 
called  conchoe  anatiferoe,  found  on  certain  trees  on  the 
coast  of  Scotland  and  the  Orkneys,  or  on  the  rotten 
timber  of  decayed  ships.  Abundance  of  authority 
for  this  absurd  fiction  may  be  found  in  the  old  books 
of  natural  history. 

The  White  Pelican  (Pelicanus  Onocrotalus\  is 
sometimes  seen  on  various  parts  of  the  coast.  This 
bird  is  as  large  as  a  swan,  measuring,  when  fully 
grown,  from  five  to  six  feet  from  the  point  of  its  bill 
to  the  tip  of  its  tail.  Its  bill,  which  stretches  to  six 
teen  or  eighteen  inches,  and  two  or  three  in  breadth, 
forms  the  distinguishing  singularity  of  this  bird.  The 
upper  mandible  is  quite  flat,  with  a  small  red  hook  at 
the  point ;  the  under  consists  of  two  pieces  united  at 


356 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


THE  WHITE  PELICAN. 

the  tip,  between  which  is  placed  a  large  dilatable 
pouch,  of  a  light  straw  color,  that  extends  down  the 
fore  part  of  the  neck,  and  is  capable  of  containing, 
when  extended,  fifteen  quarts  liquid  measure,  and 
serving  the  double  purpose  of  a  reservoir  and  provision 
bag,  for  in  this  the  parent  fetches  both  food  and  water 
to  its  young.  The  neck  has  somewhat  of  the  curva 
ture  of  the  swan,  but  without  its  majestic  bearing,  and 
is  covered  with  a  short  close  down ;  the  head  is  bare 
in  front,  and  flesh-colored,  but  on  the  back  part  has  a 
tuft  of  feathers  falling  down  on  the  neck.  The  body 
is  large  ;  the  wings  of  a  moderate  size,  extremely 
light  in  their  bony  structure,  and  capable  of  receiving 
a  large  quantity  of  air,  which  enables  it  to  soar  higli 
and  continue  long  on  the  wing ;  the  legs  are  short,  and 


HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 


35T 


bare  above  the  knee.  In  an  adult  bird,  the  plumage 
is  almost  entirely  white,  excepting  the  quill  feathers, 
which  are  black ;  but  as  it  advances  in  age,  it  becomes 
tinged  with  light  red  or  yellow.  The  White  Pelican 
is  found  on  the  sea-shore,  and  on  the  banks  of  lakes 
or  great  rivers,  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Old  World, 
with  the  exception  of  the  arctic  regions.  In  the  year 
1663,  a  straggler  was  shot  in  England  at  Horsey  Fen. 
It  feeds  on  fish ;  and  when  a  single  bird  is  in  search 
of  prey,  it  wheels  round  and  round  at  the  height  of 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  and  as  soon  as  it  perceives  a 
fish,  darts  upon  it  with  inconceivable  rapidity :  should 
it  miss,  it  rises,  and  again  repeats  the  manoeuvre,  till 
it  succeeds  ;  and,  as  soon  as  caught,  it  is  consigned  to 
its  bag,  till  it  accumulates  a  sufficient  store  to  satisfy 
its  voracity,  with  which  it  retires  to  some  neighboring 
rock  or  tree  to  eat  and  digest  at  leisure,  and  to  sleep 
till  the  call  of  hunger  stimulate  it  to  fresh  exertion. 
Sometimes,  according  to  Buffon,  they  assemble  in  large 
flocks,  and  exhibit  no  small  ingenuity  in  collecting  and 
securing  an  abundant  meal.  This  they  accomplish  by 
forming  a  circular  line,  and  gradually  narrowing  the 
inclosure,  till  the  fishes  are  driven  within  a  limited 
space  ;  then,  upon  a  given  signal,  they  all  plunge  into 
the  water  at  once,  fill  their  wallets,  and  return  loaded 
to  land  to  satiate  their  gluttony.  It  builds  in  rocks, 
or  in  marshy  and  unfrequented  places  in  low  islands 
and  lakes,  and  lays  two  or  three  white  eggs.  It  is 
affectionate  and  attentive  to  its  young,  and  from  feed 
ing  it  out  of  its  pouch  originated  the  fable  of  its 
piercing  its  breast  and  feeding  them  with  its  blood. 

Off  the  Pacific  coast  may  be  seen  the  Albatross,  or 
Man-of-War  Bird,  (Diomeda  exulans\  the  biggest  of 
all  aquatic  birds,  frequently  larger  than  a  swan,  and 


25 


358 


HISTOIIY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


THE  ALBATROSS. 

has  a  wide  range  upon  the  ocean,  both  within  and 
without  the  tropics.  It  has  a  large  strong  yellow  bill, 
terminated  by  a  stout  hook  on  the  upper  mandible; 
the  plumage  is  white,  the  back  and  wings  marked  with 
black  lines,  and  the  feet  a  carnation  red ;  it  has  only 
three  toes,  webbed.  It  is  a  very  voracious  bird,  and 
commits  great  depredations  on  the  salmon,  which  are 
found  in  shoals  at  the  mouths  of  rivers  in  these  coun 
tries  ;  and  it  is  the  greatest  enemy  of  the  flying-fish, 
when  forced  to  seek  refuge  in  the  air  from  the  pursuit 
of  its  destroyers  in  the  sea ;  nor  are  its  ravages  con 
fined  to  the  finny  tribes — it  makes  a  prey  likewise  of 
the  smaller  water-fowl,  when  it  can  contrive  to  surprise 
them.  In  return,  however,  it  finds  powerful  antago 
nists  in  the  sea  eagle,  and  the  skua  gull,  especially 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


359 


after  it  has  gorged  itself  and  become  heavy,  when  it 
sometimes  pays  the  penalty  of  its  gluttonizing.  On 
the  shores  of  South  America,  about  the  end  of  Sep 
tember,  it  builds  a,nest  of  earth  upon  the  ground,  from 
one  to  three  feet  high,  and  lays  a  number  of  eggs,  four 
and  a  half  inches  long,  which  are  eaten  by  the  natives  ; 
its  flesh  is  hard  and  dry,  but  it  also  is  used  for  food. 
Its  voice  is  said  to  resemble  the  braying  of  an  ass. 

The  Sanderling  Plover  (Tringa  arenaria\  is  often 
seen  on  the  coast.  The  numerous  flocks  keep  a  low 
circling  course  along  the  strand,  at  times,  uttering  a 


SANDERLING  PLOVER. 

slender  and  rather  plaintive  whistle,  nearly  like  that 
of  the  smaller  sandpipers.  On  alighting,  the  little 
active  troop,  waiting  the  opportunity,  scatter  them 
selves  about  in  the  rear  of  the  retiring  surge,  the 
succeeding  wave  then  again  urges  the  busy  gleaners 


Sb'O  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

before  it,  when  they  appear  like  a  little  pigmy  army 
passing  through  their  military  evolutions ;  and  at  this 
time  the  wily  sportsman,  seizing  his  opportunity, 
spreads  destruction  among  their  timid  ranks ;  and  so 
little  are  they  aware  of  the  nature  of  the  attack,  that, 
after  making  a  few  aerial  meanders,  the  survivors 
pursue  their  busy  avocations  with  as  little  apparent 
concern  as  at  the  first.  The  breeding  place  of  the 
Sanderling,  in  common  with  many  other  wading,  and 
aquatic  birds,  is  in  the  remote  and  desolate  regions  of 
the  north,  since  they  appear  to  be  obliged  to  quit  those 
countries  in  America  a  little  after  the  middle  of 
August.  According  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  they  breed  on 
the  coast  of  Hudson  Bay,  as  low  as  the  55th  parallel ; 
and  he  remarks  that  they  construct,  in  the  marshes,  a 
rude  nest  of  grass,  laying  four  dusky  eggs,  spotted 
with  black,  on  which  they  begin  to  sit  about  the  middle 
of  June. 

The  Common  or  Golden  Plover  (Charadrius  plu- 
vialis),  is  also  found  on  this  coast.  Indeed  the  Com 
mon  Plover  is,  according  to  the  season  of  the  year, 
met  with  in  almost  every  part  of  the  world,  particu 
larly  in  Asia  and  Europe,  from  Kamtschatka  to  China, 
as  well  as  in  the  South  Sea  Islands ;  and  on  the  present 
continent  from  Arctic  America,  where  it  breeds,  to 
the  Falkland  Islands ;  it  is  also  seen  in  the  interior, 
at  least  as  far  as  Missouri.  They  breed  in  Siberia, 
and  in  the  northern  parts  of  Great  Britain,  but  not  in 
France  or  Italy,  where  they  are  also  common.  At 
such  times,  they  select  the  high  and  secluded  moun 
tains  sheltered  by  the  heath,  where,  without  much 
attempt  at  a  nest,  they  deposit  about  four,  or  some 
times  five  eggs  of  a  pale  olive  color,  marked  with 
blackish  spots. 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


361 


GOLDEN  PLOVER. 

They  arrive  on  the  coast  of  the  Middle  and  Northern 
States  in  spring  and  early  autumn.  Near  to  Nantas- 
ket  and  Chelsea  beach,  they  are  seen,  on  their  return 
from  their  inclement  natal  regions  in  the  north,  by  the 
close  of  August,  and  the  young  remain  in  the  vicinity 
till  the  middle  of  October,  or  later,  according  to  the 
state  of  the  weather.  They  live  principally  upon 
land  insects,  or  the  larvae  and  worms  they  meet  with 
in  the  saline  marshes,  and  appear  very  fond  of  grass 
hoppers.  About  the  time  of  their  departure  they  are, 
early  in  a  morning,  seen  sometimes  assembled  by 
thousands,  but  they  all  begin  to  disperse  as  the  sun 
rises,  and  at  length  disappear  high  in  the  air  for  the 
season.  They  usually  associate,  however,  in  small 
flocks  and  families,  and  when  alarmed,  while  on  the 
wing,  or  giving  their,  call  to  those  who  are  feeding 
around  them,  they  have  a  wild,  shrill  and  whistling 
note,  and  are  at  most  times  timid,  watchful,  and  diffi- 


362  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

cult  to  approach.  Though  they  continue  associated 
in  numbers  for  common  safety  during  the  day,  they 
disperse  in  the  evening,  and  repose  apart  from  each 
other.  At  daybreak,  however,  the  feeling  of  solitude 
again  returns,  and  the  early  sentinel  no  sooner  gives 
the  shrill  and  well  known  call  than  they  all  assemble 
in  their  usual  company.  At  this  time,  they  are  often 
caught  in  great  numbers  by  the  fowler,  with  the  assist 
ance  of  a  clap-net,  stretched  before  dawn,  in  front  of 
the  place  they  have  selected  to  pass  the  night.  The 
fowlers  now  surrounding  the  spot,  prostrate  themselves 
on  the  ground  when  the  call  is  heard,  and  as  soon  as 
the  birds  are  collected  together,  they  rise  up  from 
ambush,  and  by  shouts,  and  the  throwing  up  of  sticks 
in  the  air,  succeed  so  far  in  intimidating  the  Plovers 
that  they  lower  their  flight,  and  thus  striking  against 
the  net,  it  falls  upon  them.  In  this,  and  most  other 
countries,  their  flesh,  in  the  autumn,  and  particularly 
that  of  the  young  birds,  is  esteemed  as  a  delicacy,  and 
often  exposed  for  sale  in  the  markets  of  the  principal 
towns. 

The  Cinereous  Coot  (Fulica  Americana)  appears 
here  among  the  water  birds.  This  bird,  says  Nuttall, 
is  found  in  almost  every  part  of  the  continent,  from  the 
grassy  lakes  that  skirt  the  Saskatchewan  plains,  in  the 
55th  parallel,  to  the  reedy  lagoons  of  East  Florida,  and 
the  marshes  of  Jamaica.  To  the  West,  the  species  seems 
to  inhabit  the  waters  of  the  Columbia,  in  the  remote 
territory  of  Oregon.  Mr.  Say  observed  them  also  in  the 
lower  part  of  Missouri,  and  in  Long's  Expedition,  they 
were  seen  in  Lake  Winnipique  (lat.  42°),  on  the  7th  of 
June.  Mr.  Swainson  has  also  received  specimens  from 
the  distant  table-land  of  Mexico.  We  may,  therefore, 
conclude  almost  with  certainty,  that  the  Coot  of 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


363 


CINEREOUS   COOT. 

America,  indifferent  to  climate,  dwells  and  breeds  in 
every  part  of  the  North  American  continent,  over  a 
range  of  probably  more  than  fifty  degrees  of  latitude  ! 
Nocturnal  in  their  habits,  and  dispersing  themselves 
far  and  wide  over  every  water  solitude,  they  appear,  in 
many  places,  to  have  disappeared  for  the  season,  until 
the  numbers,  swelled  by  their  prolific  broods,  and  im 
pelled  at  the  approach  of  winter  to  migrate  for  food, 
now  begin  to  show  themselves  in  the  lakes,  pools,  and 
estuaries  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  from  which  they 
gradually  recede  towards  the  south,  as  the  severity 
of  the  season  compels  them,  being  unable  to  subsist 
amidst  the  ice.  In  this  way  they  proceed,  accumu 
lating  in  numbers  as  they  advance,  so  that  in  the  in 
undated  and  marshy  tracts  of  Florida,  particularly 
along  the  banks  of  the  San  Juan,  they  are  seen  in 
winter,  congregated  in  vast  and  noisy  flocks.  In  the 
milder  latitudes,  their  whole  migrations  will  be  limited 
to  a  traverse  from  the  interior  to  the  vicinity  of  the 


364 


HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


THE  WIDGEON. 

sea,  while  those  which  visit  the  wilderness  of  Upper 
Canada,  where  they  are  abundant  in  the  summer,  will 
probably  migrate  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  degrees 
every  spring  and  autumn. 

The  Widgeon,  or  Bald-Pate  (Anas  Americana)  is 
another  California  game  bird. 

The  Widgeon,  or  Bald-Pate,  is  a  frequent  attend 
ant  on  the  canvas-back,  and  often  profits  by  this  asso 
ciation.  The  former,  not  being  commonly  in  the 
habit  of  diving  for  subsistence,  or  merely  from  caprice, 
watches  the  motions  of  its  industrious  neighbor,  and 
as  soon  as  the  canvas-back  rises  with  the  favorite 
root  on  which  they  both  greedily  feed,  the  Bald-Pate 
snatches  the  morsel  and  makes  off  with  his  booty. 
They  are  always  very  alert  and  lively,  feeding  and 
swimming  out  into  the  ponds  and  rivers  at  all  hours 
of  the  day,  but  are  extremely  watchful,  sheltering  in 
coves  and  behind  the  land,  and  on  the  slighest  attempt 
to  steal  upon  them,  immediately  row  out  into  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


365 


AMERICAN   TEAL. 

stream  beyond  gun-shot,  and  then  only  take  to  wing 
when  much  disturbed. 

The  American  Teal  (Anas  creccaj)  is  another  valu 
able  game  fowl. 

They  are  commonly  seen  on  the  pools,  in  close  com 
panies  of  ten  or  twelve  together,  frequenting  the  rivers 
and  unfrozen  springs  in  winter,  where  they  subsist  on 
aquatic  plants.  They  fly  very  swiftly,  and  utter  a 
sort  of  whistling  cry.  The  Teal  breeds  in  the  fens, 
continuing  in  the  temperate  parts  of  Europe  the  whole 
year.  It  conceals  its  nest  among  the  bulrushes,  con 
structing  it  of  their  stalks,  and  lining  it  with  feathers ; 
it  rests  also  sometimes  on  the  surface  on  the  water,  so 
as  to  rise  and  fall  with  the  flood.  The  eggs  are  about 
ten  or  twelve,  of  a  soiled  white,  indistinctly  marked 
with  brown  spots.  The  female  takes  the  whole  man- 
31* 


366  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

agement  of  incubation ;  the  males,  at  this  time,  seem 
to  leave  them  and  associate  by  themselves  in  com 
panies. 

Another  interesting  specimen  of  the  duck  is  the 
Golden  Eye  (Fuligula  C languid.)  The  Golden  Eye* 
is  a  common  inhabitant  of  the  boreal  regions  of  both 
continents,  from  whence  it  migrates  in  small  flocks  at 
the  approach  of  winter,  accompanying  the  velvet, 
surf  duck,  and  scoter,  in  their  desultory  route  in 
quest  of  subsistence.  On  their  way,  soon  after  the 
commencement  of  their  adventurous  voyage,  they 
visit  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  and  their  congenial 
lakes  in  the  interior,  on  which  they  linger,  feeding  on 
tender  and  small  shell-fish,  until  debarred  by  the  in 
vasion  of  frost.  They  breed  in  all  parts  of  the  deso 
late  and  remote  fur  countries  in  great  numbers, 
frequenting  the  rivers  and  fresh-water  lakes,  on  whose 
borders  they  pass  the  period  of  reproduction,  making 
a  rude  nest  of  grass,  and  protecting  the  necessary 
warmth  of  their  eggs  by  a  layer  of  feathers  or  down 
plucked  from  the  breast.  According  to  Linnaeus  it 
lays  from  seven  to  ten  white  eggs,  which  it  often  con 
ceals  and  protects  with  its  nest  in  hollow  trees.  And 
Skioldebrand  adds,  that  in  common  with  the  velvet 
duck,  it  breeds  abundantly  in  Lapland,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tornea,  within  the  Arctic  circle,  and  nearly  to 
the  northern  extremity  of  Europe.  The  inhabitants, 
for  the  value  of  the  eggs,  take  the  trouble  to  accom 
modate  these  useful  and  almost  domestic  birds,  by 
attaching  hollowed  pieces  of  wood  to  the  stunted 
pine  trees  in  which  they  ordinarily  breed.  They 
extend  their  summer  residence  as  far  as  Northern 

*  Nuttall. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


36T 


Asia  and  Greenland,  yet  in  Europe  some  pairs 
are  observed  to  propagate  even  in  temperate  coun 
tries. 

Although  furnished  with  a  remarkably  complicated 
trachea  in  the  male,  and  the  name  clangula,  we  can 
not  learn  that  they  ever  possess  any  audible  voice. 
When  flushed  they  rise  in  silence,  and  we  then  only 
hear,  instead  of  a  cry  or  a  quack,  the  very  percep 
tible  and  noisy  whistling  of  their  short  and  laboring 
wings,  for  which  reason  they  are  here  sometimes 
called  by  our  gunners  the  Brass-Eyed  Whistlers.  In 
their  native  haunts  they  are  by  no  means  shy,  allow 
ing  the  sportsman  to  make  a  near  approach,  as  if 
conscious  at  the  same  time  of  their  impunity  from 
ordinary  peril,  for  no  sooner  do  they  perceive  the 
flash  of  the  gun,  or  hear  the  twang  of  the  bow,  than 
they  dive  with  a  dexterity  which  sets  the  sportsman 
at  defiance,  and  they  continue  it  so  long  and  with 
such  remarkable  success  that  the  aboriginal  natives 
have  nick-named  them  as  conjuring  or  "  spirit  ducks." 

The  food  of  the  Golden  Eye,  for  which  they  are 
often  seen  diving,  consists  of  shell-fish,  fry,  small  rep 
tiles,  insects,  small  Crustacea,  and  tender  marine 
plants.  In  and  near  fresh  waters  they  feed  on  fluvia- 
tile  vegetables,  such  as  the  roots  of  JSquisetums,  and 
some  species  of  Polygonum.  Their  flesh,  particu 
larly  that  of  the  young,  is  generally  well  flavored, 
though  inferior  to  that  of  several  other  kinds  of  ducks. 

The  Rocky  Mountain  Golden  Eye  (Clangula  Bar- 
rovii),  also  occurs  in  these  regions.  The  habits  of 
this  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  are 
said  to  be  wholly  similar.  It  has  hitherto  been  found 
only  in  the  valleys  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Besides 
the  permanent  difference  in  the  bill,  this  species  is 


368  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


THE    HARLEQUIN   DUCK. 

further  distinguished  by  the  purer  color  of  its  dorsal 
plumage,  and  the  smaller  portion  of  white  on  its  wing 
and  scapulars.  Its  long  flank  feathers  are  also  much 
more  broadly  bordered  all  round  with  black.* 

The  Harlequin  Duck  (Fuligula  Histrionica)  is 
common  to  both  continents.  This  singularly  marked 
and  beautiful  species  is  almost  a  constant  resident  of 
the  hyperboreal  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere, 
from  which  it  migrates  but  short  distances  towards 
more  temperate  latitudes,  and  is  as  in  Europe  a  rare 
and  almost  accidental  visiter  as  far  as  the  Middle 
States  of  the  Union.  It  is  however  more  frequent  in 
Eastern  Europe  up  to  Greenland  ;  and  common  from 
Lake  Baikal  to  Kamtschatka.  Now  and  then  it  is 
killed  in  Scotland  and  the  Orkneys.  Dr.  Richardson 
found  it  to  be  a  rare  bird  in  the  fur  countries,  haunt 
ing  eddies  under  cascades,  and  rapid  streams,  where 
it  dwells  and  breeds  apart  from  all  other  ducks.  In 
Kamtschatka  it  affects  the  same  retired  and  remark- 

*  Nuttali. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


369 


able  romantic  situations;  like  the  alpine  cinclus,  it 
seeks  out  the  most  rocky  and  agitated  torrents,  in 
such  situations  it  has  been  seen  in  the  rivulets  of  Hud 
son  Bay,  as  much  as  ninety  miles  inland  from  the 
sea ;  here  it  seeks  out  its  appropriate  fare  of  spawn, 
shell-fish  and  the  larvse  of  aquatic  or  fluviatile  insects. 
On  the  low  bushy  and  shady  banks  of  these  streams 
it  constructs  its  nest,  which  contains  from  twelve  to 
fourteen  pure  white  eggs.  On  the  margins  of  fresh 
water  ponds  in  Labrador  Mr.  Audubon  also  observed 
this  species,  and  he  remarks,  that  instead  of  rearing 
their  young  in  the  same  situations  chosen  for  breeding, 
as  with  the  velvet  and  surf  duck,  it  conducts  its  brood 
to  the  sea  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched.  Its  flight  is 
high  and  swift ;  and  it  swims  and  dives  with  the  ut 
most  dexterity.  So  great  is  its  confidence  in  the 
security  of  its  most  natural  element,  that  on  the  re 
port  of  a  gun  over  the  water,  it  instantly  quits  its 
flight  and  dives  at  once  with  the  celerity  of  thought. 
It  is  said  to  be  clamorous,  and  that  its  voice  is  a  sort 
of  whistle;  the  anatomy  of  the  trachea  is  however, 
unknown,  and  it  is  not  said  whether  this  sibilation  be 
really  produced  from  the  throat  or  the  wings,  as  is 
the  latter  case  in  the  common  clangula  or  golden  eye. 
Driven  from  their  solitary  resorts  in  the  interior  by 
the  invasion  of  frost,  they  are  now  seen  out  at  sea 
engaged  in  obtaining  a  different  mode  of  subsistence. 
Amidst  these  icy  barriers  they  still  continue  to  endure 
the  rigors  of  winter,  continually  receding  farther  out 
to  sea,  or  making  limited  and  almost  accidental  visits 
to  milder  regions.  When  discovered,  they  display 
the  utmost  vigilance,  and  instantly  take  to  wing.  It 
is  considered  to  be  a  game  superior  in  flavor  to  the 
common  wild  duck.  From  the  singular  and  beautiful 


370  HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

crescent-shaped  lines  and  marks  which  ornament  its 
neck  and  breast  it  has  probably  come  by  the  dignified 
appellation  of  lord,  among  the  fishers  of  Newfound 
land.  It  is  here  too  rare  to  have  acquired  any  par 
ticular  name.* 


THE  LONG-TAILED  DUCK. 

The  Long-Tailed  Duck  (Fuligula  Crlacialis)  is 
often  seen  among  the  water  birds  on  the  Pacific  shores. 
This  elegant  and  noisy  duck,  known  so  generally  in 
the  Southern  States  by  the  nickname  of  '  South- 
Southerly/  from  its  note,  and,  in  most  other  parts  by 
the  appellation  of  '  Old  Squaws'  or  <  Old  Wives,'  is 
an  Arctic  inhabitant  of  both  continents,  and  abounds 
in  the  glacial  seas  of  America,  where  it  is  seen  com 
monly  associated  with  the  eider,  surf,  black  and  other 
ducks  of  congenial  habits,  who  invariably  prefer  the 

•Nuttall. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


371 


frail  but,  to  them,  productive  dominion  of  the  sea  to 
the  land  or  its  more  peaceful  waters.  So  strong  is 
the  predilection  of  this  species  for  its  frigid  natal 
climes  and  their  icy  barriers,*  that  it  is  seen  to  linger 
in  the  north  as  long  as  the  existence  of  any  open 
water  can  be  ascertained ;  when  the  critical  moment 
of  departure,  at  length  approaches,  common  wants 
and  general  feeling  begin  so  far  to  prevail  as  to  unite 
the  scattered  families  into  numerous  flocks.  They 
now  proceed  towards  the  south,  and  making  a  halt  on 
the  shores  and  inland  lakes  round  Hudson  Bay, 
remain  until  again  reluctantly  driven  towards  milder 
climes.  They  are  the  last  birds  of  passage  that  take 
leave  of  the  fur  countries.  Familiar  with  cold,  and 
only  driven  to  migrate  for  food,  in  the  latter  end  of 
August,  when  already  a  thin  crust  of  ice  is  seen 
forming  in  the  night  over  the  still  surface  of  the 
Arctic  Sea,  the  female  Harelda  is  observed  ingeni 
ously  breaking  a  way  with  her  wings  for  the  egress 
of  her  young  brood. 

According  to  the  state  of  the  weather  we  conse 
quently  observe  the  variable  arrival  of  these  birds. 
In  October  they  generally  pay  us  a  visit,  the  old  al 
ready  clad  in  the  more  dazzling  garb  of  winter.  The 
young  sometimes  seek  out  the  shelter  of  the  fresh 
water  ponds,  but  the  old  keep  out  at  sea.  No  place 
in  the  Union  so  abounds  with  these  gabblers  as  the 
Bay  of  Chesapeake.  They  are  lively,  restless  and 
gregarious  in  all  their  movements,  and  fly,  dive,  and 
swim  with  unrivalled  dexterity ;  and  subsist  chiefly 
upon  small  shell-fish,  and  marine  plants,  particularly 
the  zostera  or  grass-wrack.  Late  in  the  evening,  or 

•  Nuttall. 


372  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

early  in  the  morning,  towards  spring  more  particu 
larly,  vast  flocks  are  seen  in  the  bays  and  sheltered 
inlets,  and  in  calm  and  foggy  weather  we  hear  the 
loud  and  blended  nasal  call  reiterated  for  hours  from 
the  motley  multitude.  There  is  something  in  the  sound 
like  the  honk  of  the  goose,  and  as  far  as  words  can  ex 
press  a  subject  so  uncouth,  it  resembles  the  guttural 
syllables  'ogh  ough  egh,  and  then  'ogli  ogli  ogTi  ougli 
eghj  given  in  a  ludicrous  drawling  tone  ;  but  still  with 
all  the  accompaniments  of  scene  and  season,  this 
humble  harbinger  of  spring,  obeying  the  feelings  of 
nature,  and  pouring  forth  his  final  ditty  before  his 
departure  to  the  distant  north,  conspire  with  the 
novelty  of  the  call,  to  please  rather  than  disgust 
those  happy  few  who  may  be  willing  "  to  find  good  in 
every  thing."  This  peculiar  cry,  is  well  known  to  the 
aboriginal  sons  of  the  forest,  and  among  the  Crees 
the  species  is  called  " Hah-lia-way -,"  so  much  like  the 
syllables  I  have  given  above,  that  many  might 
imagine  my  additions  no  more  than  a  version  of  the 
same. 

The  Velvet  Duck  ( Fuligula  fusca)  is  another  beau 
tiful  species  of  this  genus. 

The  Velvet  Duck  is  common  to  the  northern  regions 
of  both  continents,  where  it  retires  late  in  the  spring 
to  pass  the  period  of  reproduction.  Like  the  preced 
ing,  they  live  principally  upon  the  sea  and  its  pro 
ductions,  diving  often  in  broken  water  for  shell-fish 
and  other  marine  bodies.  They  breed  along  the 
Arctic  coast  and  around  Hudson  Bay  and  Labrador, 
retiring  inland  for  the  purpose  ;  nesting  contiguous  to 
small  fresh-water  pools  in  the  shelter  of  juniper  or 
pine  bushes,  laying  from  eight  to  ten  white  eggs, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


373 


VELVET  DUCK. 

which  the  female  closely  covers  with  her  elastic  feather. 
The  young  are  attended  by  the  female  only,  who 
remains  with  her  brood  in  these  seclusions  until  they 
are  nearly  ready  to  fly.  She  also  makes  a  show  of 
defending  them,  and  the  young  themselves  often  by 
their  great  alertness  in  diving  escape  the  attacks  of 
their  enemies.  They  arc  abundant  in  the  Orkneys 
and  Hebrides,  as  well  as  in  Norway,  Sweden  and  Lap 
land;  and  are  common  in  some  parts  of  Siberia  and 
Kamtschatka.  Near  Kengis,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tornea  in  Lapland,  a  little  beyond  the  67th  parallel, 
Skioldebrand  remarked  them  nesting  in  trees,  particu 
larly  pines,  accompanied  by  the  golden  eye  (Fuligula 
clanglua).  The  inhabitants,  he  also  adds,  knowing  the 
32 


26 


374  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

trouble  they  have  in  forming  their  nests,  attach  hol 
lowed  pieces  of  wood  to  the  trees  for  their  conve 
nience  ;  and  in  recompense  receive  a  quantity  of  their 
eggs,  which  supply  the  place  of  those  of  the  common 
fowl,  no  longer  found  to  endure  the  severity  of  these 
hyperboreal  climates. 

On  the  commencement  of  incubation,  the  males 
leave  the  land  and  again  assemble  together  in  flocks 
out  at  sea.  In  the  moulting  season,  which  soon  after 
takes  place  among  these  seceding  birds,  the  natives  at 
Ochotska  to  the  number  of  fifty  or  more,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Indians  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  taking 
advantage  of  the  flood  tide,  drive  the  whole  flock 
before  them  up  the  river,  in  canoes,  and  as  soon  as 
the  water  ebbs,  they  despatch  them  with  clubs  in  such 
numbers  that  each  individual  often  comes  in  for  twenty 
or  thirty  to  his  share. 

The  Velvet  Duck  is  said  to  return  late  to  its  breed 
ing  quarters  in  Sweden,  the  eggs  being  sometimes 
found  fresh  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  July.  In  April 
they  are  seen,  in  cloudy  weather  more  particularly, 
proceeding  steadily  on  the  wing  in  large  flocks  towards 
their  northern  destination.  At  these  times  they  fly 
low  in  an  irregular  angular  phalanx,  making  a  straight 
course  just  outside  of  the  land,  and  are  perfectly  silent 
and  intent  on  their  voyage.  In  the  spring  of  1831,  I 
saw  them  thus  migrating  by  thousands,  though  not 
more  than  twelve  to  twenty  associate  in  any  one  flock. 
They  proceed  in  all  probability  to  the  very  extremity 
of  the  Union,  in  the  course  of  the  winter,  are  very 
abundant  in  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake,  being  usually 
accompanied  by  the  scoters,  and  are  taken  sometimes 
in  the  same  nets  with-  them.  With  the  other  dark 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


375 


species  of  this  subgenus  they  are  here  known  by  the 
appellation  of  Coots,  and  these  are  distinguished  by 
the  name  of  the  White-Winged  kind.  Whether  from 
their  nocturnal  habits  or  what  other  cause,  I  cannot 
pretend  to  say,  when  they  have  been  seen  in  Fresh 
Pond,  which  they  sometimes  visit,  at  least  the  young, 
their  heads  have  been  observed  nodding,  as  though 
they  were  oppressed  by  sleep  ;  and  we  sometimes  here 
have  a  saying  of  being  as  sleepy  as  a  Coot.  The 
flesh  of  the  old  bird  is  strong,  dark,  and  sedgy,  yet 
they  are  much  sought  after  in  this  quarter,  and  often 
exposed  for  sale  in  the  market,  particularly  the  young 
birds  whose  flavor  is  more  tolerable.  They  arrive  in 
New  England  from  the  north  about  the  close  of  Sep 
tember,  and  according  to  Richardson,  spend  some 
time  on  the  coasts  of  Hudson  Bay  and  the  lakes  of 
the  interior  previous  to  their  departure  for  the  south.* 
The  Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax  carlo).  This  uncouth 
and  gluttonous  bird  is  plentiful  on  the  rocky  shores 
of  Great  Britain,  Holland,  France,  and  Germany. 
On  the  shores  of  the  Caspian  they  are  sometimes  seen 
in  vast  flocks,  and  are  frequent  on  Lake  Baikal. 
They  inhabit  China,  the  coast  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  are  common  in  the  Philippine  Islands, 
New  Holland,  New  Zealand,  and  other  neighboring 
regions.  At  Nootka  Sound,  and  in  Kamtschatka 
they  have  been  observed  by  various  navigators ;  and 
are  found  in  North  America,  from  Hudson  Bay  and 
Labrador,  to  the  coasts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia.  They 
are  not  however  common  in  the  central  parts  of  the 
United  States,  though  they  penetrate  into  the  interior 
as  far  as  the  Missouri  River.  They  breed,  and  are 

*Nuttall. 


376 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


CORMORANT. 

seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  on  bare  and  rocky 
islands,  nearly  throughout  the  year,  and  in  all  places 
appear  shy,  retiring  and  sedentary,  enduring  the  most 
severe  weather  with  impunity,  and  only  removing  sea 
wards  or  south  in  the  depth  of  winter  for  the  purpose 
of  acquiring  food.  Mr.  Aububon  found  them  breeding 
on  the  ledges  of  almost  inaccessible  rocks  at  Grand 
Manan  Isle,  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  Their  eggs  are 
three  to  five,  white,  roughened  with  a  calcareous  in 
crustation,  and  small  for  the  size  of  the  bird.  They 
appear  very  wary  and  shy,  and  feed  their  young  with 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


377 


great  assiduity,  whose  voice  at  this  time  resembles  the 
hissing  of  snakes. 

The  Cormorant  is  a  very  dexterous  and  voracious 
fisher,  committing  great  havoc  when  it  visits  pools 
and  lakes ;  but  it  almost  constantly  resides  on  the  sea 
shores,  and  is  seldom  seen  inland.  Swimming  beneath 
the  water  with  the  velocity  of  a  dart  in  the  air,  and 
remaining  a  long  time  submerged,  its  prey  scarcely 
ever  escapes,  and  it  almost  'always  rises  with  a  fish  in 
its  bill,  to  swallow  which  it  employs  the  expedient  of 
tossing  it  into  the  air,  and  dexterously  catches  the 
head  in  its  descent,  so  that  the  fins  lie  flat,  and  thus 
favor  the  passage  down  the  throat ;  the  small  pouch 
at  the  same  time  stretches  so  as  to  admit  the  whole 
body  of  the  fish,  which  is  often  very  large  in  propor 
tion  to  the  neck,  and  it  there  remains  undergoing  a 
preparatory  digestion  previous  to  its  passage  into  the 
lower  part  of  the  stomach. 

In  some  countries,  as  in  China,  and  formerly  in 
England,  the  dexterity  of  the  Cormorant  in  fishing 
was  turned  to  profit ;  for,  by  buckling  a  ring  about 
the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  to  prevent  deglutition,  and 
accustoming  it  to  return  with  its  acquisitions  in  the 
bill  to  its  master,  it  was  made  a  useful  and  domestic 
fisher.  On  the  rivers  of  China,  Cormorants,  thus 
fixed,  are  perched  on  the  prows  of  boats,  and  at  a 
signal  made  by  striking  the  water  with  an  oar,  they 
instantly  plunge,  and  soon  emerge  with  a  fish,  which 
is  taken  from  them ;  and  this  toil  continued  till  its 
master  is  satisfied,  he  looses  the  collar,  and  finishes 
the  task  by  allowing  it  to  fish  for  itself.  But  it  is 
only  hunger  which  gives  activity  to  the  Cormorant ; 
when  glutted  with  its  meal,  which  is  soon  acquired,  it 
relaxes  into  its  native  indolence,  and  dozes  away  the 
32* 


378  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA, 

i 


SEA   BOTTEREL. 

greatest  part  of  its  time  in  gluttonous  inebriety, 
perched  in  solitude  on  naked  and  insulated  or  inacces 
sible  rocks  to  which  it  prudently  retires  for  greater 
safety  from  the  intrusion  of  enemies. 

The  Turnstone,  or  Sea  Dotterel,  (Strepsilus  inter- 
pres)  is  also  a  visiter  in  California. 

This  singular  marine  bird  is  not  only  common  to 
the  whole  northern  hemisphere,  but  extends  its  colo 
nies  even  to  Senegal  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in 
the  southern  half  of  the  globe.  Their  favorite  breed 
ing  resorts  are,  however,  confined  to  the  inclement  re 
gions  of  the  north,  to  which  they  are  in  no  haste  to 
return,  but  linger  along  the  coast  in  the  temperate 
climates  for  several  months,  before  they  attain  to  the 
remote  and  desolate  shores  of  their  nativity.  Their 
southern  progress  in  America,  is  in  all  probability 
continued  as  far  as  the  tropics,  since  their  race  even 
extends  itself  into  the  other  hemisphere.  Buffon,  in 
fact,  figures  a  specimen  of  the  young  bird  from  Cay 
enne.  In  New  Jersey,  according  to  Wilson,  they 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


379 


arrive  in  the  month  of  April,  and  there  linger  until 
June,  very  soon  after  which  they  are  seen  at  their 
breeding  quarters,  on  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  and 
along  the  desolate  strand  of  the  Arctic  Sea,  where 
they  have  been  met  with  by  the  northern  navigators, 
as  far  as  the  75th  parallel.  They  already  begin  to 
depart  from  these  remote  boreal  regions  in  August,  in 
which  month,  and  even  towards  the  close  of  July,  I 
have  seen  young  birds  for  sale  in  the  market  of  Bos 
ton.  They  visit  the  shores  of  Great  Britain  also 
about  the  same  time,  arriving  thence  probably  from 
the  Arctic  shores  of  Siberia.  Five  or  six  weeks 
later,  they  are  observed  to  visit  the  borders  of  the 
Delaware,  and  proceed  onward  to  the  south  as  the 
weather  increases  in  coldness.  The  most  southern 
summer  residence  of  this  species  known,  if  Mr.  Flem 
ing  be  correct,  is  the  Scottish  isle  of  Zetland.  They 
are  also  said  to  inhabit  the  isles  of  the  Baltic  during 
summer.  In  a  mere  depression  of  the  sand  or  gravel, 
along  the  sea  coast,  it  is  said  to  drop  its  eggs,  which 
are  four  in  number,  and  according  to  Mr.  Hutchins, 
are  of  an  olive  green,  spotted  with  blackish  brown. 

It  is  naturally  of  a  wild  and  solitary  disposition, 
coursing  along  the  shore  by  pairs,  or  in  small  families 
which  have  been  bred  together.  In  the  months  of 
May  and  June,  in  New  Jersey,  they  almost  wholly 
feed  upon  the  spawn  of  the  king-crab,  or  horse-foot, 
(Monoculus  polyphemus,  LIN.)  which  affords  them 
and  other  animals  an  abundant  and  almost  inex 
haustible  supply. 

We  could  easily  extend  this  list  of  the  quadrupeds 
and  birds  of  California  much  further ;  but  we  have 
already  shown  that  the  country  abounds  in  game  as 


380  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

well  as  in  the  various  other  objects  of  interest  which 
form  the  study  of  the  zoologist. 

All  writers  agree  that  the  waters  of  California 
abound  in  fish  in  a  most  extraordinary  degree.  Num 
berless  varieties  of  sea  fish  literally  swarm  off  the 
coast,  and  the  rivers  abound  in  valuable  kinds  suitable 
for  the  table.  Shell  fish  are  also  abundant ;  oysters, 
the  pearl  shell,  already  referred  to,  clams  and  several 
species  of  the  haliotis  are  found.  Salmon  which  are 


SALMON. 

known  to\be  so  abundant  in  the  Columbia  River,  are 
not  less  so  in  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento.  Two 
or  three  thousand,  according  to  Farnham,  are  some 
times  taken  in  a  day.  The  Indians  take  them  in  a 
basket  of  wicker  work  like  a  lobster  basket,  as  they 
pass  up  the  rivers  in  the  spring.  They  are  also  very 
skilful  in  spearing  them.  The  fish  are  preserved  by 
drying  and  salting. 


STURGEON. 


The  Sturgeon  (Accipenser  transmontanus\  is  found 
in  the  large  rivers  eight  or  ten  feet  in  length,  and 
weighing  five  hundred  pounds. 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


381 


In  the  Bay  of  Monterey  there  are  great  numbers  of 
the  Mackerel  and  a  fish  similar  to  the  Sarduie.  Por 
poises  are.  seen  playing  and  spouting  in  the  bays,  and 
the  whale  is  found  off  the  coast. 


PORPOISE. 

Mr.  Farnham  enumerates  among  the  fishes,  the 
halibut,  skate,  turbot,  and  bonito.  But  these  of  course 
form  but  a  very  small  part  of  that  immense  variety 
which  are  found  on  the  coast  where  the  fish  of  the 
tropical  regions  are  mingled  with  those  which  people 
the  waters  of  the  north. 

In  the  plants  and  trees  of  California  there  is  a  visible 
field  for  the  future  explorations  of  the  botanist.  In 
the  vegetable  as  in  the  animal  kingdom,  we  find  the 
products  of  various  latitudes  from  the  tropics  to  the 
arctic  regions  all  mingled  together.  Several  varieties 
of  the  pine  are  found,  the  most  remarkable  of  which 
is  the  Pinus  Douglasii,  first  described  by  Douglas. 
In  the  mountains  about  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  the 
Colorado  River,  and  other  parts  of  Upper  California 
specimens  of  this  tree  are  found  two  hundred  and  forty 
feet  high,  the  bases  of  whose  trunks  are  nearly  sixty 
feet  in  circumference.  The  trunk,  says  Farnham, 
is  quite  destitute  of  branches  until  above  more  than 
half  the  altitude,  when  they  grow  outward  and  upward 


382  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the  top  the  form  of  an 
inverted  pyramid.  From  the  ends  of  the  branches 
hang  the  cones  or  seed-vessels,  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches  in  length,  and  egg-shaped.  The  seeds  are  as 
large  as  a  good-sized  bean,  and  furnish  a  common  arti 
cle  of  food  to  the  Indians,  who  collect  large  quantities 
of  them  in  the  autumn,  and  pound  them  into  a  kind  of 
cake,  which  is  baked  on  heated  stones.  The  wood  is 
very  fine-grained,  and  contains  a  great  quantity  of 
resin. 

The  Pinus  Sabinii,  P.  Lambertiana,  P.  noblis, 
and  P.  resinosa,  are  also  fine  species,  though  less  in 
size  than  their  gigantic  relative.  The  former  is,  how 
ever,  a  large  tree,  being  often  found  one  hundred  and 
ten  feet  high,  and  from  ten  to  twelve  in  diameter. 
Among  the  elevated  plains  of  Upper  California  it 
grows  quite  plentifully,  as  also  on  the  low  hills,  near 
the  coast,  where  it  attains  a  larger  size.  The  natives 
frequently  build  their  fires  against  these  trees  to  save 
the  trouble  of  collecting  fuel.  By  this  means,  also,  a 
sweet  gum  is  made  to  exude  from  the  trunk,  which 
serves  them  for  sugar. 

Mr.  Farnham  also  mentions  among  the  trees  of 
California,  the  White  Oak,  Live  Oak,  Maple,  Ash, 
Beech,  and  Chestnut. 

The  flowering  shrubs  and  plants  of  California  are 
very  numerous.  Mr.  Farnham  says : 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  full  description  of  the 
flowering  shrubs  and  plants  of  Upper  California,  so 
great  is  their  variety  and  beauty.  We  have  only 
space  to  notice  a  few  of  the  most  conspicuous.  A 
species  of  Raspberry,  Ribes  speciosum,  is  one  of  the 
most  elegant  flowering  shrubs  of  the  country.  It  is 
exceedingly  abundant  in  some  localities,  and,  with  its 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


383 


long  crimson  stamens  and  its  deep  green  leaves,  pre 
sents  an  appearance  truly  lovely.     The  flowers  bloom 
early  in  spring.    The  fruit  I  have  not  seen.    In  many 
places  are  found  several  species  of  Mimulus,  one  of 
which  is  from  three  to  four  feet  in  height,  and  is  a 
very  showy  plant.     This  country  also  has  numerous 
species   of  Phlox    and  Heuchera,   and  innumerable 
quantities    of    Epilobium,     Enothera    or    Primrose, 
Pentstemon,  Xapaver  or  Poppy,   Delphinium,  and 
Salvia.     A  species  of  lily  also  grows  here,  the  roots 
of  which  are  eaten  by  the  natives.     The  Scilla  escu- 
lenta  grows  along  the  whole  coast  of  Upper  California. 
This  is  called  by  the  natives  "  QuamasJi"  and  the 
root  forms  a  very  common  article  of  food.     To  prepare 
this  for  eating,  a  hole  is  made  in  the  ground,  and  a 
number  of  stones    placed  in  it,   on  which  a  fire  is 
kindled,  and  kept  burning  until  they  are  made  hot, 
when  the  fire  is  extinguished,  and  the  roots  wrapped 
in  straw,  leaves,  and  moss,  and  placed  upon  them. 
They  are  well  roasted  in  a  few  hours  ;  and  are  then 
taken  off  and  hung  up  to  dry.     This  root  is  also  some 
times  pounded  and  made  into  cakes,  which  are  pre 
served  for  future  use.     The  taste  is  sweet,  and  rather 
agreeable ;  but  if  eaten  too  freely,  they  are  apt  to 
produce  diarrhoea.     This  plant  is  most  abundant  on 
the  banks  of  rivers  and  on  lowlands  by  the  margins  of 
forests ;    in  which   localities   are  also  found  several 
species   of  Pyrola,  Caprifolium,  and  Lupinus,  which 
sometimes  cover  an  immense  extent    of  land.     The 
Arbutus  is  also  abundant  in  similar  situations.     The 
large  species,  A.  procera,  is  a  fine  shrub,  frequently 
attaining  a  growth  which  entitles  it  to  be  called  a  tree. 
The  A.  uva  ursi  is  found  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
colder  sections  of  the  country,  and  its  berries  are  fre- 


384  BISTORT  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

quently  eaten  by  the  natives,  and  even  by  travellers. 
A  very  useful  plant  to  the  natives  is  the  Helonias 
tenax,  the  fibres  of  which  are  stronger  than  any  hemp. 
Cords  made  of  this  are  used  by  the  Indians  for  the 
purpose  of  snaring  deer  and  other  animals ;  and  one 
the  thickness  of  the  little  finger  is  so  strong  as  not  to 
be  broken  by  the  largest  elk. 

The  Gooseberry  grows  in  Upper  California,  and 
bears  plentifully.  The  sand-hills  and  moors  are 
covered  with  a  great  variety  of  Syngenesious  plants, 
and  on  the  more  fertile  and  humid  soil  grows  a  gaudy- 
flowered  Currant-bush  and  a  pretty  species  of  Honey 
suckle.  Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  shrub  here  is 
the  Yedra,  a  poisonous  plant,  which,  however,  affects 
some  particular  constitutions  only.  By  contact  with 
the  skin,  it  produces  tumors  and  violent  inflammation. 
It  is  a  slender  shrub,  preferring  cool  and  shady  places, 
and  bearing  a  trefoil  crenated  leaf.  Two  roots — the 
plants  of  which  I  have  not  seen — are  used  by  the 
natives  for  soap ;  these  are  called  Amole  and  Samate. 
On  the  rocky  coast  south  of  Monterey  are  immense 
collections  of  sea-weed — Fucus  pyrifornis — which  are 
said  to  have  gathered  there  in  such  abundance,  as  to 
have  saved  several  vessels  from  splitting  on  the  rocks, 
when  driven  on  them  by  the  tempest. 

A  resident  in  California  writing  to  a  member  of 
Congress,  thus  speaks  of  the  vegetable  productions 
and  appearance  of  the  country. 

I  know  you  will  ask  me  for  reasons  for  this.  Apart 
from  the  gold,  and  the  people  who  have,  are  coming, 
and  will  come,  to  possess  it,  I  can  give  you  one,  and 
you  not  having  seen  for  yourself  cannot  appreciate 
the  truth  of  my  remarks.  All  I  can  do  is  to  ask  you 
to  rely  upon  my  assertion,  which  in  its  terms  falls 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


385 


short  of  what  the  reality  would  appear  to  you  were 
you  here.  Our  country  is  a  continued  succession  of 
mighty  mountain  ranges,  perpetually  snow-capped, 
and  peopled  with  the  grisly  bear,  between  which  high 
and  lofty  mountains  are  deep,  beautiful,  fertile  and 
luxuriant  valleys,  which  have  no  superiors  and  few 
parallels  in  America,  either  for  richness  of  soil  or  beauty 
of  landscape.  Wheat,  barley,  oats,  &c.,  grow  here 
finer  than  in  any  State  in  the  Union.  The  grains  are 
generally  produced  without  irrigation ;  but  with  irri 
gation,  you  can  have  a  succession  of  two  or  three 
crops  a  year.  Our  coldest  weather  does  not  exceed 
that  of  New  Orleans,  never  seeing  more  than  a  slight 
white  frost,  while  for  six  months  of  the  year  you  can 
see  from  where  you  stand,  at  any  time,  the  terrible 
snow  storm  raging  on  the  mountain  tops,  while  the 
landscape  at  your  feet  is  covered  with  Flora's  most 
lovely  variety  of  flowers.  Our  valleys  are  mostly 
prairies,  with  timber  enough  for  fires  and  fences,  but 
none  for  lumber.  The  latter  is  to  be  had  in  the  moun 
tains.  The  gigantic  trees  down  in  Maine  are  mere 
bushes  to  our  pines,  redwood,  hemlock,  spruce,  and 
firs,  from  three  hundred  to  five  hundred  feet  in 
height,  and  twenty,  nay,  up  to  thirty  feet  in  diameter 
— >as  straight  and  tapering  from  the  root  to  the  top 
(the  latter  only  as  big  as  your  finger)  as  if  they  had 
been  turned  in  a  lathe  by  a  skilful  mechanic.  Such 
forests,  both  as  to  timber  and  extent ! — You  cannot 
realize  the  idea  I  wish  to  convey.  I  once  helped  to 
fell  some  of  these  gigantic  trees,  with  my  own  hands, 
to  make  fire  to  keep  from  freezing,  while  in  a  terrible 
storm  of  fourteen  days  and  nights,  exposed  to  all  its 
furies,  without  any  covering  but  the  skies.  When  we 
at  last  reached  the  Sacramento  valley,  the  contrast 
33 


386  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

was  indescribable — it  was  one  extended  flower-bed  and 
grass-plat ! 

Of  the  mineral  riches  of  California  we  have  already 
given  so  full  an  account  in  the  previous  chapters  of 
this  work,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  advert  to  it  in  this 
connexion.  In  justice  to  Mr.  Farnham,  however,  we 
cannot  omit  to  quote  a  passage  from  his  excellent 
work  "  Life,  Adventures,  and  Travels  in  California," 
published  before  the  discovery  of  the  gold  mines,  in 
which  the  future  destiny  of  California  is  distinctly 
foretold. 

"No  doubt  is  entertained  by  those  best  acquainted 
with  the  Californias,  that  they  will  become,  when 
science  shall  be  applied  in  the  development  in  their 
wealth,  one  of  the  richest  mineral  provinces  in  America. 
This  belief  is  much  strengthened  by  the  fact,  that  the 
Indians,  whenever  they  choose,  can  bring  into  the 
settlements  large  quantities  of  these  ores,  which  they 
either  find  on  the  surface,  or  pry  from  the  crevices  of 
the  rocks  with  sharpened  sticks,  bones,  or  hunting 
knives.  They  cannot  be  induced  to  show  the  whites 
where  they  obtain  these,  on  account  of  an  old  tradi 
tional  superstition,  that  if  they  should  do  so,  they 
would  immediately  die." 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  A. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  CALIFORNIA. 
PROCLAMATION  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

THE  delegates  of  the  people  assembled  in  Conven 
tion,  have  formed  a  constitution,  which  is  now  pre 
sented  for  your  ratification.  The  time  and  manner 
of  voting  on  this  constitution,  and  of  holding  the 
first  general  election,  are  clearly  set  forth  in  the  sche 
dule.  The  whole  subject  is,  therefore,  left  for  your 
unbiassed  and  deliberate  consideration. 

The  Prefect  (or  person  exercising  the  functions  of 
that  office)  of  each  district,  will  designate  the  places 
for  opening  the  polls,  and  give  due  notice  of  the  elec 
tion,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  consti 
tution  and  schedule. 

The  people  are  now  called  upon  to  form  a  govern 
ment  for  themselves,  and  to  designate  such  officers  as 
they  desire,  to  make  and  execute  the  laws.  That 
their  choice  may  be  wisely  made,  and  that  the  govern- 

387 


388  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ment  so  organized  may  secure  the  permanent  welfare 
and  happiness  of  the  people  of  the  new  State,  is  the 
sincere  and  earnest  wish  of  the  present  Executive, 
who,  if  the  constitution  be  ratified,  will,  with  pleasure, 
surrender  his  powers  to  whomsoever  the  people  may 
designate  as  his  successor. 

Given  at  Monterey,  California,  this  12th  day  of 
October,  A.  D.,  1849, 

(Signed)  B.  RILEY, 

Brevet  Brig.  General,  U.  S.  A.,  and  Governor  of 
California. 

(Official)  II.  W.  HALLECK, 

Brevet  Captain  and  Secretary  of  State. 


WE  THE  PEOPLE  OF  CALIFORNIA,  GRATEFUL  TO  AL 
MIGHTY  GOD  FOR  OUR  FREEDOM,  IN  ORDER  TO 
SECURE  ITS  BLESSINGS,  DO  ESTABLISH  THIS  CON 
STITUTION  : — 

ARTICLE  I. 

DECLARATION    OF    RIGHTS. 

SEC.  1.  All  men  are  by  nature  free  and  indepen 
dent,  and  have  certain  inalienable  rights,  among 
which  are  those  of  enjoying  and  defending  life  and 
liberty,  acquiring,  possessing,  and  protecting  property, 
and  pursuing  and  obtaining  safety  and  happiness. 

SEC.  2.  All  political  power  is  inherent  in  the  peo 
ple.  Government  is  instituted  for  the  protection,  se 
curity,  and  benefit  of  the  people ;  and  they  have  the 
right  to  alter  or  reform  the  same,  whenever  the  pub 
lic  good  may  require  it. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


389 


SEC.  3.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  secured 
to  all,  and  remain  inviolate  for  ever ;  but  a  jury  trial 
may  be  waived  by  the  parties,  in  all  civil  cases,  in  the 
manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

SEC.  4.  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  reli 
gious  profession  and  worship,  without  discrimination 
or  preference,  shall  for  ever  be  allowed  in  this  State ; 
and  no  person  shall  be  rendered  incompetent  to  be  a 
witness  on  account  of  his  opinions  on  matters  of  reli 
gious  belief;  but  the  liberty  of  conscience,  hereby 
secured,  shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to  excuse  acts 
of  licentiousness,  or  justify  practices  inconsistent  with 
the  peace  or  safety  of  this  State. 

SEC.  5.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus 
shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when,  in  cases  of  rebel 
lion  or  invasion,  the  public  safety  may  require  ita 
suspension. 

SEC.  6.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor 
excessive  fines  imposed,  nor  shall  cruel  or  unusual 
punishments  be  inflicted,  nor  shall  witnesses  be  un 
reasonably  detained. 

SEC.  7.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable,  by  sufficient 
sureties :  unless  for  capital  offences,  when  the  proof  is 
evident  or  the  presumption  great. 

SEC.  8.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a 
capital  or  otherwise  infamous  crime  (except  in  cases 
of  impeachment,  and  in  cases  of  militia  when  in  ac 
tual  servicej  and  the  land  and  naval  forces  in  time  of 
war,  or  which  this  State  may  keep  with  the  consent 
of  Congress  in  time  of  peace,  and  in  cases  of  petit 
larceny  under  the  regulation  of  the  Legislature,)  un 
less  on  presentment  or  indictment  of  a  grand  jury  ; . 
and  in  any  trial  in  any  court  whatever,  the  party  ac 
cused  shall  be  allowed  to  appear  and  defend  in  person 
33* 


27 


390  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

and  with  counsel,  as  in  civil  actions.  No  person  shall 
be  subject  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same 
offence ;  nor  shall  he  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal 
case,  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived 
of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of 
law ;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public 
use  without  just  compensation. 

SEC.  9.  Every  citizen  may  freely  speak,  write,  and 
publish  his  sentiments  on  all  subjects,  being  respon 
sible  for  the  abuse  of  that  right ;  and  no  law  shall  be 
passed  to  restrain  or  abridge  the  liberty  of  speech  or 
of  the  press.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  on  indict 
ments  for  libels,  the  truth  may  be  given  in  evidence 
to  the  jury ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  the  jury  that 
the  matter  charged  as  libellous  is  true,  and  was  pub 
lished  with  good  motives  and  for  justifiable  ends,  the 
party  shall  be  acquitted :  and  the  jury  shall  have  the 
right  to  determine  the  law  and  the  fact. 

SEC.  10.  The  people  shall  have  the  right  freely  to 
assemble  together,  to  consult  for  the  common  good,  to 
instruct  their  representatives,  and  to  petition  the  legis 
lature  for  redress  of  grievances. 

SEC.  11.  All  laws  of  a  general  nature  shall  have  a 
uniform  operation. 

SEC.  12.  The  military  shall  be  subordinate  to  the 
civil  power.  No  standing  army  shall  be  kept  up  by 
this  State  in  time  of  peace ;  and  in  time  of  war  no 
appropriation  for  a  standing  army  shall  be  for  a 
longer  time  than  two  years. 

SEC.  13.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be 
quartered  in  any  house,  without  the  consent  of  the 
owner ;  nor  in  time  of  war,  except  in  the  manner  to 
be  prescribed  by  law. 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


391 


SEC.  14.  Representation  shall  be  apportioned  ac 
cording  to  population. 

SEC.  15.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt 
in  any  civil  action  on  mesne  or  final  process,  unless 
in  cases  of  fraud";  and  no  person  shall  be  imprisoned 
for  a  milita  fine  in  time  of  peace. 

SEC.  16.  No  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or 
law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  shall  ever 
be  passed. 

SEC.  17.  Foreigners  who  are,  or  who  may  here 
after  become,  bona  fide  residents  of  this  State,  shall 
enjoy  the  same  rights  in  respect  to  the  possession,  en 
joyment,  and  inheritance  of  property,  as  native  born 
citizens. 

SEC.  18.  Neither  slavery.,  nor  involuntary  servi 
tude,  unless  for  the  punishment  of  crimes,  shall  ever 
be  tolerated  in  this  State. 

SEC.  19.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in 
their  persons,  houses,  papers  and  effects,  against  un 
reasonable  seizures  and  searches,  shall  not  be  violated ; 
and  no  warrant  shall  issue  but  on  probable  cause, 
supported  by  oath  or  affirmation,  particularly  describ 
ing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  and 
things  to  be  seized. 

SEC.  20.  Treason  against  the  State  shall  consist 
only  in  levying  war  against  it,  adhering  to  its  enemies, 
or  giving  them  aid  and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be 
convicted  of  treason,  unless  on  the  evidence  of  two 
witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  confession  in  open 
court. 

SEC.  21.  This  enumeration  of  rights  shall  not  be 
construed  to  impair  or  deny  others  retained  by  the 
people. 


392  HISTOEY  OP   CALIFOKNIA. 

ARTICLE   II. 

EIGHT     OF    SUFFEAGE. 

SEC.  1.  Every  white  male  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  every  white  male  citizen  of  Mexico,  who 
shall  have  elected  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  under  the  treaty  of  peace  exchanged  and  rati 
fied  at  Queretaro,  on  the  30th  day  of  May,  1848,  of 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  who  shall  have  been  a 
resident  of  the  State  six  months  next  preceding  the 
election,  and  the  county  or  district  in  which  he  claims 
his  vote  thirty  days,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  all 
elections  which  are  now  or  hereafter  may  be  autho 
rized  by  law :  Provided,  that  nothing  herein  contained 
shall  be  construed  to  prevent  the  Legislature,  by  a 
two-thirds  concurrent  vote,  from  admitting  to  the 
right  of  suffrage,  Indians  or  the  descendants  of  Indians, 
in  such  special  cases  as  such  a  proportion  of  the  legis 
lative  body  may  deem  just  and  proper. 

SEC.  2.  Electors  shall,  on  all  cases  except  treason, 
felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest 
on  the  days  of  the  election,  during  their  attendance  at 
such  election,  going  to  and  returning  therefrom. 

SEC.  3.  No  elector  shall  be  obliged  to  perform  militia 
duty  on  the  day  of  election,  except  in  time  of  war  or 
public  danger. 

SEC.  4.  For  the  purpose  of  voting,  no  person  shall 
be  deemed  to  have  gained  or  lost  a  residence  by  rea 
son  of  his  presence  or  absence  while  employed  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States ;  nor  while  engaged  in 
the  navigation  of  the  waters  of  this  State,  or  of  the 
United  States,  or  of  the  high  seas ;  nor  while  a  student 
of  any  seminary  of  learning ;  nor  while  kept  at  any 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


393 


almshouse,  or  other  asylum,  at  public  expense;  nor 
•while  confined  in  any  public  prison. 

SEC.  5.  No  idiot  or  insane  person,  or  person  con 
victed  of  any  infamous  crime,  shall  be  entitled  to  the 
privileges  of  an  elector. 

SEC.  6.  All  elections  by  the  people  shall  be  by 
ballot. 

ARTICLE    III. 

DISTRIBUTION     OF     POWERS. 

The  powers  of  the  government  of  the  State  of  Cali 
fornia  shall  be  divided  into  three  separate  depart 
ments  :  the  Legislature,  the  Executive,  and  Judicial ; 
and  no  person  charged  with  the  exercise  of  powers 
properly  belonging  to  one  of  these  departments,  shall 
exercise  any  functions  appertaining  to  either  of  the 
others ;  except  in  the  cases  hereinafter  expressly 
directed  or  permitted. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

LEGISLATIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

SEC.  1.  The  legislative  power  of  this  State  shall 
be  vested  in  a  Senate  and  Assembly,  which  shall  be 
designated  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  California, 
and  the  enacting  clause  of  every  law  shall  be  as  fol 
lows  :  "  The  people  of  the  State  of  California,  repre 
sented  in  Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows." 

SEC.  2.  The  sessions  of  the  Legislature  shall  be 
annual,  and  shall  commence  on  the  first  Monday  of 
January,  next  ensuing  the  election  of  its  members  ; 
unless  the  Governor  of  the  State  shall,  in  the  interim, 
convene  the  Legislature  by  proclamation. 

SEC.  3.  The  members  of  the  Assembly  shall  be 


394  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

chosen  annually,  by  the  qualified  electors  of  their 
respective  districts,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the 
first  Monday  in  November,  unless  otherwise  ordered 
by  the  Legislature,  and  their  term  of  office  shall  be 
one  year. 

SEC.  4.  Senators  and  Members  of  Assembly  shall 
be  duly  qualified  electors  in  the  respective  counties 
and  districts  which  they  represent. 

SEC.  5.  Senators  shall  be  chosen  for  the  term  of 
two  years,  at  the  same  time  and  places  as  Members 
of  Assembly ;  and  no  person  shall  be  a  Member  of  the 
Senate  or  Assembly,  who  has  not  been  a  citizen  and 
inhabitant  of  the  State  one  year,  and  of  the  country 
or  district  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen  six  months 
next  before  his  election. 

SEC.  6.  The  number  of  Senators  shall  not  be  less 
than  one  third,  nor  more  than  one  half,  of  that  of  the 
Members  of  Assembly ;  and  at  the  first  session  of  the 
Legislature  after  this  Constitution  takes  effect,  the 
Senators  shall  be  divided  by  lot  as  equally  as  may  be, 
into  two  classes ;  the  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first 
class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  first 
year,  so  that  one  half  shall  be  chosen  annually. 

Sec.  7.  When  the  number  of  Senators  is  increased, 
they  shall  be  apportioned  by  lot,  so  as  to  keep  the 
two  classes  as  nearly  equal  in  number  as  possible. 

Sec.  8.  Each  house  shall  choose  its  own  officers,  and 
judge  of  the  qualifications,  elections,  and  returns  of 
its  own  members. 

SEC.  9.  A  majority  of  each  house  shall  constitute  a 
quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller  number  may 
adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  compel  the  attend 
ance  of  absent  members,  in  such  manner,  and  under 
such  penalties  as  each  house  may  provide. 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA.  395 

SEC.  10.  Each  house  shall  determine  the  rules  of 
its  own  proceedings,  and  may  with  the  concurrence 
of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elected,  expel  a 
member. 

SEC.  11.  Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  own 
proceedings,  and  publish  the  same  ;  and  the  yeas  and 
nays  of  the  members  of  either  house,  on  any  question, 
shall,  at  the  desire  of  any  three  members  present,  be 
entered  on  the  journal. 

SEC.  12.  Members  of  the  Legislature  shall,  in  all 
cases  except  treason,  felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace, 
be  privileged  from  arrest,  and  they  shall  not  be  subject 
to  any  civil  process  during  the  session  of  the  Legisla 
ture,  nor  for  fifteen  days  next  before  the  commence 
ment  and  after  the  termination  of  each  session. 

SEC.  13.  When  vacancies  occur  in  either  house,  the 
Governor,  or  the  person  exercising  the  functions  of 
the  Governor,  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

SEC.  14.  The  doors  of  each  house  shall  be  open, 
except  on  such  occasions  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  house 
may  require  secrecy. 

SEC.  15.  Neither  house  shall,  without  the  consent 
of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to 
any  other  place  than  that  in  which  they  may  be  sitting. 

SEC.  16.  Any  bill  may  originate  in  either  house  of 
the  Legislature,  and  all  bills  passed  by  one  house  may 
be  amended  in  the  other. 

SEC.  IT.  Every  bill  which  may  have  passed  the 
Legislature,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  pre 
sented  to  the  Governor.  If  he  approve  it,  he  shall 
sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objec 
tions,  to  the  house  in  which  it  originated,  which  shall 
enter  the  same  upon  the  journal,  and  proceed  to  re- 


396  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

consider  it.  If,  after  such  reconsideration,  it  again 
pass  both  houses,  by  yeas  and  nays,  by  a  majority  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  of  each  house  present,  it 
shall  become  a  law,  notwithstanding  the  Governor's 
objections.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  within 
ten  days  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him, 
(Sunday  excepted,)  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in  like 
manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Legislature, 
by  adjournment,  prevent  such  return. 

SEC.  18.  The  Assembly  shall  have  the  sole  power 
of  impeachment ;  and  all  impeachments  shall  be  tried 
by  the  jSenate.  When  sitting  for  that  purpose,  the 
Senators  shall  be  upon  oath  or  affirmation  ;  and  no 
person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

SEC.  19.  The  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Se 
cretary  of  State,  Comptroller,  Treasurer,  Attorney- 
General,  Surveyor-General,  Justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  Judges  of  the  District  Courts,  shall  be 
liable  to  impeachment  for  any  misdemeanor  in  office  ; 
but  judgment  in  such  cases  shall  extend  only  to  re 
moval  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any  office 
of  honor,  trust  or  profit,  under  the  State ;  but  the 
party  convicted,  or  acquitted,  shall  nevertheless  be 
liable  to  indictment,  trial  and  punishment,  according 
to  law.  All  other  civil  officers  shall  be  tried  for  mis 
demeanors  in  office,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature 
may  provide. 

SEC.  20.  No  Senator  or  member  of  Assembly  shall, 
during  the  term  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected, 
be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  of  profit,  under  this 
State,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emolu 
ments  of  which  shall  have  been  increased,  during  such 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


39T 


term,  except  such  office  as  may  be  filled  by  elections 
by  the  people. 

SEC.  21.  No  person  holding  any  lucrative  office 
under  the  United  States,  or  any  other  power,  shall  be 
eligible  to  any  civil  office  of  profit,  under  this  State  > 
provided,  that  officers  in  the  militia,  to  which  there  is 
attached  no  annual  salary,  or  local  officers  and  post 
masters  whose  compensation  does  not  exceed  five 
hundred  dollars  per  annum,  shall  not  be  deemed  lucra 
tive. 

SEC.  22.  No  person  who  shall  be  convicted  of  the 
embezzlement  or  defalcation  of  the  public  funds  of  this 
State,  shall  ever  be  eligible  to  any  office  of  honor, 
trust,  or  profit,  under  the  State ;  and  the  Legislature 
shall,  as  soon  as  practicable,  pass  a  law  providing  for 
the  punishment  of  such  embezzlement,  or  defalcation, 
as  a  felony. 

SEC.  23.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Trea 
sury  but  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by 
law.  An  accurate  statement  of  the  receipts  and  ex 
penditures  of  the  public  moneys  shall  be  attached  to, 
and  published  with,  the  laws,  at  every  regular  session 
of  the  Legislature. 

SEC.  24.  The  members  of  the  Legislature  shall 
receive  for  their  services,  a  compensation  to  be  fixed 
by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury ;  but  no 
increase  of  the  compensation  shall  take  effect  during 
the  term  for  which  the  members  of  either  house  shall 
have  been  elected. 

SEC.  25.  Every  law  enacted  by  the  Legislature, 
shall  embrace  but  one  object,  and  that  shall  be  ex 
pressed  in  the  title ;  and  no  law  shall  be  revised,  or 
amended,  by  reference  to  its  title ;  but  in  such  case, 
34 


398  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

the  act  revised,  or  section  amended,  shall  be  re- 
enacted  and  published  at  length. 

SEC.  26.  No  divorce  shall  be  granted  by  the  Legis 
lature. 

SEC.  27.  No  lottery  shall  be  authorized  by  this 
State,  nor  shall  the  sale  of  lottery  tickets'  be  allowed. 

SEC.  28.  The  enumeration  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
State  shall  be  taken,  under  the  direction  of  the  Legis 
lature,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-two,  and  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
five,  and  at  the  end  of  every  ten  years  thereafter ; 
and  these  enumerations,  together  with  the  census  that 
may  be  taken,  under  the  direction  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty,  and  every  subsequent  ten  years, 
shall  serve  as  the  basis  of  representation  in  both 
houses  of  the  Legislature. 

SEC.  29.  The  number  of  Senators  and  Members  of 
Assembly,  shall,  at  the  first  session  of  the  Legislature, 
holden  after  the  enumeration  herein  provided  for  are 
made,  be  fixed  by  the  Legislature,  and  apportioned 
among  the  several  counties  and  districts  to  be  esta 
blished  by  law,  according  to  the  number  of  white  in 
habitants.  The  number  of  Members  of  Assembly 
shall  not  be  less  than  twenty-four,  nor  more  than 
thirty-six,  until  the  number  of  inhabitants  within  this 
State  shall  amount  to  one  hundred  thousand:  and 
after  that  period,  at  such  ratio  that  the  whole  number 
of  Members  of  Assembly  shall  never  be  less  than  thirty, 
nor  more  than  eighty. 

SEC.  30.  When  a  congressional,  senatorial,  or 
assembly  district,  shall  be  composed  of  two  or  more 
counties,  it  shall  not  be  separated  by  any  county  be 
longing  to  another  district ;  and  no  county  shall  be 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA.  399 

divided,  in  forming  a  congressional,  senatorial,  or 
assembly  district. 

SEC.  31.  Corporations  may  be  formed  under  gene 
ral  laws,  but  shall  not  be  created  by  special  act,  ex 
cept  for  municipal  purposes.  All  general  laws  and 
special  acts  passed  pursuant  to  this  section  may  be 
altered  from  time  to  time,  or  repealed. 

SEC.  32.  Dues  from  corporations  shall  be  secured 
by  such  individual  liability  of  the  corporators,  and 
other  means,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

SEC.  33.  The  term  corporations,  as  used  in  this 
article,  shall  be  construed  to  include  all  associations 
and  joint-stock  companies,  having  any  of  the  powers 
or  privileges  of  corporations  not  possessed  by  indivi 
duals  or  partnerships.  And  all  corporations  shall 
have  the  right  to  sue,  and  shall  be  subject  to  be  sued, 
in  all  courts,  in  like  cases  as  natural  persons. 

SEC.  34.  The  Legislature  shall  have  no  power  to 
to  pass  any  act  granting  any  charter  for  banking  pur 
poses  ;  but  associations  may  be  formed  under  general 
laws,  for  the  deposit  of  gold  and  silver ;  but  no  such 
association  shall  make,  issue,  or  put  in  circulation, 
any  bill,  check,  tickets,  certificate,  promissory  note, 
or  other  paper,  or  the  paper  of  any  bank,  to  circulate 
as  money. 

SEC.  35.  The  Legislature  of  this  State  shall  pro 
hibit,  by  law,  any  person  or  persons,  association,  com 
pany,  or  corporation,  from  exercising  the  privileges 
of  banking,  or  creating  paper  to  circulate  as  money. 

SEC.  36.  Each  stockholder  of  a  corporation,  or 
joint-stock  association,  shall  be  individually  and  per 
sonally  liable  for  his  proportion  of  all  its  debts  and 
liabilities. 

SEC.  37.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Legislature  to 


400  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

provide  for  the  organization  of  cities  and  incorporated 
villages,  and  to  restrict  their  power  of  taxation,  as 
sessment,  borrowing  money,  contracting  debts,  and 
loaning  their  credit,  so  as  to  prevent  abuses  in  assess 
ments,  and  in  contracting  debts,  by  such  municipal 
corporations. 

SEC.  38.  In  all  elections  by  the  Legislature,  the 
members  thereof  shall  vote  viva  voce,  and  the  votes 
shall  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

ARTICLE   V. 

EXECUTIVE     DEPARTMENT. 

SEC.  1.  The  supreme  executive  power  of  this  State 
shall  be  vested  in  a  chief  magistrate,  who  shall  be 
styled  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  California. 

SEC.  2.  The  Governor  shall  be  elected  by  the 
qualified  electors,  at  the  time  and  places  of  voting  for 
Members  of  Assembly,  and  shall  hold  his  office  two 
years  from  the  time  of  his  installation,  and  until  his 
successor  .shall  be  qualified. 

SEC.  3.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of 
Governor  (except  at  the  first  election)  who  has  not 
been  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  and  a  resident  of 
this  State  two  years  next  preceding  the  election,  and 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  at  the  time  of 
said  election. 

SEC.  4.  The  returns  of  every  election  for  Governor 
shall  be  sealed  up  and  transmitted  to  the  seat  of  gov 
ernment,  directed  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly, 
who  shall,  during  the  first  week  of  the  session,  open 
and  publish  them  in  presence  of  both  houses  of  the 
Legislature.  The  person  having  the  highest  number 
of  votes  shall  be  Governor ;  but  in  case  any  two  or 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


401 


more  have  an  equal  and  the  highest  number  of  votes, 
the  Legislature  shaJ  by  joint-vote  of  both  houses, 
choose  one  of  said  persons,  so  having  an  equal  and 
the  highest  number  of  rotes,  for  Governor. 

SEC.  5.  The  Governor  shall  be  commander-in-chief 
of  the  militia,  the  army,  and  navy  of  this  State. 

SEC.  6.  He  shall  transact  all  executive  business 
with  the  officers  of  government,  civil  and  military, 
and  may  require  information  in  writing  from  the 
officers  of  the  executive  department,  upon  any  subject 
relating  to  the  duties  of  the  respective  offices. 

SEC.  7.  He  shall  see  that  the  laws  are  faithfully 
executed. 

SEC.  8.  When  any  office  shall,  from  any  cause,  be 
come  vacant,  and  no  mode  is  provided  by  the  constitu 
tion  and  laws  for  filling  such  vacancy,  the  Governor 
shall  have  power  to  fill  such  vacancy  by  granting  a 
commission,  which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  the  next 
session  of  the  Legislature,  or  at  the  next  election  by 
the  people. 

SEC.  9.  He  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  con 
vene  the  Legislature  by  proclamation,  and  shall  state 
to  both  houses,  when  assembled,  the  purpose  for  which 
they  shall  have  been  convened. 

SEC.  10.  He  shall  communicate  by  message  to  the 
Legislature,  at  every  session,  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  recommend  such  matters  as  he  shall  deem 
expedient. 

SEC.  11.  in  case  of  a  disagreement  between  the 
two  houses,  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment, 
the  Governor  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  the  Legis 
lature  to  such  time  as  he  may  think  proper;  Provided 
it  be  not  beyond  the  time  fixed  for  the  meeting  of  the 
next  Legislature. 

34* 


402  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

SEC.  12.  No  person  shall,  while  holding  any  office 
under  the  United  States,  or  this  State,  exercise  the 
office  of  Governor,  except  as  hereinafter  expressly 
provided. 

SEC.  13.  The  Governor  shall  have  the  power  to 
grant  reprieves  and  pardons  after  conviction,  for  all 
offences  except  treason,  and  cases  of  impeachment, 
upon  such  conditions,  and  with  such  restrictions  and 
limitations,  as  he  may  think  proper,  subject  to  such 
regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  law  relative  to  the 
manner  of  applying  for  pardons.  Upon  conviction 
for  treason  he  shall  have  the  power  to  suspend  the 
execution  of  the  sentence  until  the  case  shall  be  re 
ported  to  the  Legislature  at  its  next  meeting,  when 
the  Legislature  shall  either  pardon,  direct  the  execu 
tion  of  the  sentence,  or  grant  a  further  reprieve.  He 
shall  communicate  to  the  Legislature,  at  the  begin 
ning  of  every  session,  every  case  of  reprieve,  or  par 
don  granted,  stating  the  name  of  the  convict,  the 
crime  of  which  he  was  convicted,  the  sentence  and  its 
date,  and  the  date  of  the  pardon  or  reprieve. 

SEC.  14.  There  shall  be  a  seal  of  this  State,  which 
shall  be  kept  by  the  Governor,  and  used  by  him 
officially,  and  it  shall  be  called  "The  Great  Seal  of 
the  State  of  California." 

SEC.  15.  All  grants  and  commissions  shall  be  in 
the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  people  of  the 
State  of  California,  sealed  with  the  great  seal  of  the 
State,  signed  by  the  Governor,  and  countersigned  by 
the  Secretary  of  State. 

SEC.  16.  A  Lieutenant-Governor  shall  be  elected 
at  the  same  time  and  place,  and  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  Governor ;  and  his  term  of  office,  and  his  qua 
lifications,  shall  also  be  the  same.  He  shall  be  Pre- 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


403 


sident  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  only  have  a  casting 
vote  therein.  If,  during  a  vacancy  of  the  office  of 
Governor,  the  Lieutenant-GAvernor  shall  be  im 
peached,  displaced,  resign,  die,  or  become  incapable 
of  performing  ihe  duties  of  his  office,  or  be  absent 
from  the  State,  the  President  of  the  Senate  shall  act 
as  Governor,  until  the  vacancy  be  filled,  or  the  dis 
ability  shall  cease. 

SEC.  17.  In  case  of  the  impeachment  of  the  Go- 
vernor,  or  his  removal  from  office,  death,  inability  to 
discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said  office, 
resignation  or  absence  from  the  State,  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  office  shall  devolve  upon  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  for  the  residue  of  the  term,  or  until  the 
disability  shall  cease.  But  when  the  Governor  shall, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Legislature,  be  out  of  the 
State  in  time  of  war,  at  the  head  of  any  military  force 
thereof,  he  shall  continue  commander-in-chief  of  all 
the  military  forces  of  the  State. 

SEC.  18.  A  Secretary  of  State,  a  Comptroller,  a 
Treasurer,  an  Attorney-General  and  Surveyor-Gene 
ral,  shall  be  chosen  in  the  manner  provided  in  this 
Constitution ;  and  the  term  of  office,  and  eligibility 
of  each,  shall  be  the  same  as  are  prescribed  for  the 
Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor. 

SEC.  19.  The  Secretary  of  State  shall  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  Senate.  He  shall  keep  a  fair  record  of 
the  official  acts  of  the  Legislature  and  Executive 
Departments  of  the  Government;  and  shall,  when 
required,  lay  the  same,  and  all  matters  relative  there 
to,  before  either  branch  of  the  Legislature :  and 
shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  shall  be  assigned 
him  by  law. 


404  HISTOKY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

SEC.  20.  The  Comptroller,  Treasurer,  Attorney- 
General  and  Surveyor-General,  shall  be  chosen  by 
joint  vote  of  the  two  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  at 
their  first  session  under  this  Constitution,  and  there 
after  shall  be  elected  at  the  same  time  and  places, 
and  in  the  same  manner,  as  the  Governor  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor. 

SEC.  21.  The  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Se 
cretary  of  State,  Comptroller,  Treasurer,  Attorney- 
General,  and  Surveyor-General,  shall  each  at  stated 
times  during  their  continuance  in  office,  receive  for 
their  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  not  be  in 
creased  or  diminished  during  the  term  for  which  they 
shall  have  been  elected ;  but  neither  of  these  officers 
shall  receive  for  his  own  use  any  fees  for  the  perform 
ance  of  his  official  duties. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

JUDICIAL    DEPARTMENT. 

SEC.  1.  The  judicial  power  of  this  State  shall  be 
vested  in  a  Supreme  Court,  in  District  Courts,  in 
County  Courts,  and  in  Justices  of  the  Peace.  The 
Legislature  may  also  establish  such  municipal  and 
other  inferior  courts  as  may  be  deemed  necessary. 

SEC.  2.  The  Supreme  Court  shall  consist  of  a 
Chief  Justice,  and  two  Associate  Justices,  any  two  of 
whom  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

SEC.  3.  The  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
be  elected  at  the  general  election,  'by  the  qualified 
electors  of  the  State,  and  shall  hold  their  office  for 
the  term  of  six  years  from  the  first  day  of  January 
next  after  their  election ;  provided  that  the  Legisla- 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


405 


ture  shall,  at  its  first  meeting,  elect  a  Chief  Justice 
and  two  Associate  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  by 
joint  vote  of  both  houses,  and  so  classify  them  that 
one  shall  go  out  of  office  every  two  years.  After  the 
first  election,  the  senior  Justice  in  commission  shall 
be  the  Chief  Justice. 

SEC.  4.  The  Supreme  Court  shall  have  appellate 
jurisdiction  in  all  cases  when  the  matter  in  dispute 
exceeds  two  hundred  dollars,  when  the  legality  of 
any  tax,  toll,  or  impost,  or  municipal  fine  is  in  ques 
tion  :  and  in  all  criminal  cases  amounting  to  felony, 
or  questions  of  law  alone.  And  the  said  court  and 
each  of  the  Justices  thereof,  as  well  as  all  district  and 
county  judges,  shall  have  power  to  issue  writs  of  ha 
beas  corpus,  at  the  instance  of  any  person  held  in 
actual  custody.  They  shall  also  have  power  to  issue 
all  other  writs  and  process  necessary  to  the  exercise 
of  the  appellate  jurisdiction,  and  shall  be  conserva 
tors  of  the  peace  throughout  the  State. 

SEC.  5.  The  State  shall  be  divided  by  the  first 
Legislature  into  a  convenient  number  of  districts, 
subject  to  such  alteration  from  time  to  time  as  the 
public  good  may  require  ;  for  each  of  which  a  district 
judge  shall  be  appointed  by  the  joint  vote  of  the 
legislature,  at  its  first  meeting,  who  shall  hold  his 
office  for  two  years  from  the  first  day  of  January 
next  after  his  election ;  after  which,  said  judges  shall 
be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors  of  their  respective 
districts,  at  the  general  election,  and  shall  hold  their 
office  for  the  term  of  six  years. 

SEC.  6.  The  District  Courts  shall  have  original 
jurisdiction,  in  law  and  equity,  in  all  civil  cases  where 
the  amount  in  dispute  exceeds  two  hundred  dollars, 
exclusive  of  interest.  In  all  criminal  cases  not  other- 


28 


406  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

wise  provided  for,  and  in  all  issues  of  fact  joined  in 
the  probate  courts,  their  jurisdiction  shall  be  unlimited. 

SEC.  7.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  the  elec 
tion,  by  the  people,  of  a  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  County  Clerks,  District  Attorneys,  Sheriffs,  Coro 
ners,  and  other  necessary  officers ;  and  shall  fix  by 
law  their  duties  and  compensation.  County  Clerks 
shall  be,  ex-officio,  Clerks  of  the  District  Courts  in 
and  for  their  respective  counties. 

SEC.  8.  There  shall  be  elected  in  each  of  the  or 
ganized  counties  of  this  State,  one  County  Judge 
who  shall  hold  his  office  for  four  years.  He  shall 
hold  the  County  Court,  and  perform  the  duties  of 
Surrogate,  or  Probate  Judge.  The  County  Judge, 
with  two  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  be  designated  ac 
cording  to  law,  shall  hold  courts  of  sessions,  with 
such  criminal  jurisdiction  as  the  Legislature  shall  pre 
scribe,  and  he  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  shall 
be  required  by  law. 

SEC.  9.  The  County  Courts  shall  have  such  juris 
diction,  in  cases  arising  in  Justices  Courts,  and  in  spe 
cial  cases,  as  the  Legislature  may  prescribe,  but  shall 
have  no  original  civil  jurisdiction,  except  in  such  spe 
cial  cases. 

SEC.  10.  The  times  and  places  of  holding  the 
terms  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  general  and  spe 
cial  terms  of  the  District  Courts  within  the  several 
districts,  shall  be  provided  for  by  law. 

SEC.  11.  No  judicial  officer,  except  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  shall  receive  to  his  own  use,  any  fees,  or  per 
quisites  of  office. 

SEC.  12.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  the 
speedy  publication  of  all  statute  laws,  and  of  such 
judicial  decisions  as  it  may  deem  expedient ;  and  all 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


40T 


laws  and  judicial  decisions  shall  be  free  for  publica 
tion  by  any  person. 

SEC.  13.  Tribunals  for  conciliation  may  be  esta 
blished,  with  such  powers  and  duties  as  may  be  pre 
scribed  by  law;  but  such  tribunals  shall  have  no 
power  to  render  judgment  to  be  obligatory  on  the 
parties,  except  they  voluntarily  submit  their  matters 
in  difference,  and  agree  to  abide  the  judgment,  or 
assent  thereto  in  the  presence  of  such  tribunal,  in 
such  cases  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

SEC.  14.  The  Legislature  shall  determine  the  num 
ber  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  be  elected  in  each 
county,  city,  town,  and  incorporated  village  of  the 
State,  and  fix  by  law  their  powers,  duties,  and  respon 
sibilities.  It  shall  also  determine  in  what  cases 
appeals  may  be  made  from  Justices'  Courts  to  the 
County  Court. 

SEC.  15.  The  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
•  Judges  of  the  District  Court,  shall  severally,  at  stated 
times  during  their  continuance  in  office,  receive  for 
their  services  a  compensation,  to  be  paid  out  of  the 
treasury,  which  shall  not  be  increased  or  diminished 
during  the  term  for  which  they  shall  have  been  elected. 
The  County  Judges  shall  also  severally,  at  stated 
times,  receive  for  their  services  a  compensation  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  county  treasury  of  their  respective 
counties,  which  shall  not  be  increased  or  diminished 
during  the  term  for  which  they  shall  have  been  elected. 

SEC.  16.  The  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  and 
District  Judges  shall  be  ineligible  to  any  other  office, 
during  the  term  for  which  they  shall  have  been  elected. 

SEC.  17.  Judges  shall  not  charge  juries  with  respect 
to  matters  of  fact,  but  may  state  the  testimony  and 
declare  the  law. 


408  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

SEC.  18.  The  style  of  all  process  shall  be  "  The 
People  of  the  State  of  California;"  all  the  prosecu 
tions  shall  be  conducted  in  the  name  and  by  the  autho 
rity  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE    VII. 

MILITIA. 

SEC.  1.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  by  law,  for 
organizing  and  disciplining  the  militia,  in  such  manner 
as  they  shall  deem  expedient,  not  incompatible  with 
the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States. 

SEC.  2.  Officers  of  the  militia  shall  be  elected,  or 
appointed,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  shall 
from  time  to  time  direct ;  and  shall  be  commissioned 
by  the  Governor. 

SEC.  3.  The  Governor  shall  have  power  to  call  forth 
the  militia,  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  State,  to  sup 
press  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions. 

ARTICLE    VIII. 

STATE     DEBTS. 

The  Legislature  shall  not  in  any  manner  create  any 
debt  or  debts,  liability  or  liabilities,  which  shall  singly, 
or  in  the  aggregate,  with  any  previous  debts  or  liabili 
ties  exceed  the  sum  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
except  in  case  of  war,  to  repel  invasion,  or  suppress 
insurrection,  unless  the  same,  shall  be  authorized  by 
some  law  for  some  single  object  or  work,  to  be  distinctly 
specified  therein,  which  law  shall  provide  ways  and 
means,  exclusive  of  loans,  for  the  payment  of  the 
interest  of  such  debt  or  liability,  as  it  falls  due,  and 
also  pay  and  discharge  the  principal  of  such  debt  or 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


409 


liability  within  twenty  years  from  the  time  of  the 
contracting  thereof,  and  shall  be  irrepealable  until  the 
principal  and  interest  thereon  shall  be  paid  and  dis 
charged  ;  but  no  such  law  shall  take  effect  until,  at  a 
general  election,  it  shall  have  been  submitted  to  the 
people,  and  have  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
cast  for  and  against  it  at  such  election ;  and  all  money 
raised  by  authority  of  such  law  shall  be  applied  only 
to  the  specific  object  therein  stated,  or  to  the  payment 
of  the  debt  thereby  created ;  and  such  law  shall  be 
published  in  at  least  one  newspaper  in  each  judicial 
district,  if  one  be  published  therein,  throughout  the 
State,  for  three  months  next  preceding  the  election  at 
which  it  is  submitted  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE    IX. 

EDUCATION. 

SEC.  1.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  the  elec 
tion,  by  the  people,  of  a  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  three  years, 
and  whose  duties  shall  be  prescribed  by  law,  and  who 
shall  receive  such  compensation  as  the  Legislature  may 
direct. 

SEC.  2.  The  Legislature  shall  encourage,  by  all  suit 
able  means,  the  promotion  of  intellectual,  scientific, 
moral  and  agricultural  improvement.  The  proceeds 
of  all  lands  that  may  be  granted  by  the  United  States 
to  this  State  for  the  support  of  schools,  which  may  be 
sold  or  disposed  of,  and  the  five  hundred  thousand 
acres  of  land  granted  to  the  new  States,  under  an  act 
of  Congress  distributing  the  proceeds  of  the  public 
lands  among  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  approved 
A.  D.  1841 ;  and  all  estates  of  deceased  persons  who 
35 


410  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

may  have  died  without  leaving  a  will,  or  heir,  and 
also  such  per  cent,  as  may  be  granted  by  Congress  on 
the  sale  of  lands  in  this  State,  shall  be  and  remain  a 
perpetual  fund,  the  interest  of  which,  together  with 
all  the  rents  of  the  unsold  lands,  and  such  other  means 
as  the  Legislature  may  provide,  shall  be  inviolably 
appropriated  to  the  support  of  Common  Schools 
throughout  the  State. 

SEC.  3.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  a  system 
of  Common  Schools,  by  which  a  school  shall  be  kept 
up  and  supported  in  each  district  at  least  three  months 
in  every  year :  and  any  school  district  neglecting  to 
keep  up  and  support  such  a  school,  may  be  deprived 
of  its  proportion  of  the  interest  of  the  public  fund 
during  such  neglect. 

SEC.  4.  The  Legislature  shall  take  measures  for  the 
protection,  improvement,  or  other  disposition  of  such 
lands  as  have  been,  or  may  hereafter  be,  reserved  or 
granted  by  the  United  States,  or  any  person  or  per 
sons  to  this  State  for  the  use  of  a  University  ;  and  the 
funds  accruing  from  the  rents  or  sale  of  such  lands,  or 
from  any  other  source,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  shall 
be  and  remain  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  of  which 
shall  be  applied  to  the  support  of  said  university,  with 
such  branches  as  the  public  convenience  may  demand 
for  the  promotion  of  literature,  the  arts  and  sciences, 
as  may  be  authorized  by  the  terms  of  such  grant. 
And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Legislature,  as  soon  as 
may  be,  to  provide  effectual  means  for  the  improve 
ment  and  permanent  security  of  the  funds  of  said 
University. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


411 


ARTICLE    X. 

MODE    OF    AMENDING    AND    REVISING    THE 
CONSTITUTION. 

SEC.  1.  Any  amendment  or  amendments  to  this 
Constitution  may  be  proposed  in  the  Senate  or  Assem 
bly  ;  and  if  the  same  shall  be  agreed  to  by  a  majority 
of  the  members  elected  to  each  of  the  two  houses,  such 
proposed  amendment  or  amendments  shall  be  entered 
on  their  journals,  with  the  yeas  and  nays  taken  thereon, 
and  referred  to  the  Legislature  then  next  to  be  chosen, 
and  shall  be  published  for  three  months  next  preced 
ing  the  time  of  making  such  choice.  And  if,  in  the 
Legislature  next  chosen,  as  aforesaid,  such  proposed 
amendment  or  amendments  shall  be  agreed  to  by  a 
majority  of  all  the  members  elected  to  each  house,  then 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Legislature  to  submit  such 
proposed  amendment  or  amendments  to  the  people,  in 
such  manner,  and  at  such  time,  as  the  Legislature  shall 
prescribe ;  and  if  the  people  shall  approve  and  ratify 
such  amendment  or  amendments,  by  a  majority  of  the 
electors  qualified  to  vote  for  members  of  the  Legisla 
ture  voting  thereon,  such  amendment  or  amendments 

o 

shall  become  part  of  the  Constitution. 

SEC.  2,  And  if,  at  any  time,  two-thirds  of  the  Senate 
'and  Assembly  shall  think  it  necessary  to  revise  and 
change  this  entire  Constitution,  they  shall  recommend 
to  the  electors,  at  the  next  election  for  members  of  the 
Legislature,  to  vote  for  or  against  the  convention  ; 
and  if  it  shall  appear  that  a  majority  of  the  electors 
voting  at  such  election  have  voted  in  favor  of  calling 
a  convention,  the  Legislature  shall,  at  its  next  session, 
provide  by  law  for  calling  a  convention,  to  be  holden 


412  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

within  six  months  after  the  passage  of  such  law  ;  and 
such  convention  shall  consist  of  a  number  of  members 
not  less  than  that  of  both  branches  of  the  Legislature. 

ARTICLE   XL 

MISCELLANEOUS     PROVISIONS. 

SEC.  1.  The  first  session  of  the  Legislature  shall  be 
held  at  the  Pueblo  de  San  Jose,  which  place  shall  be 
the  permanent  seat  of  government,  until  removed  by 
law ;  provided,  however,  that  two-thirds  of  all  the 
members  elected  to  each  house  of  the  Legislature 
shall  concur  in  the  passage  of  such  law. 

SEC.  2.  Any  citizen  of  this  State  who  shall,  after 
the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  fight  a  duel  with 
deadly  weapons,  or  send  or  accept  a  challenge  to  fight 
a  duel  with  deadly  weapons,  either  within  the  State 
or  out  of  it ;  or  who  shall  act  as  second,  or  knowingly 
aid  or  assist  in  any  manner  those  thus  offending,  shall 
not  be  allowed  to  hold  any  office  of  profit,  or  to  enjoy 
the  right  of  suffrage  under  this  Constitution. 

SEC.  3.  Members  of  the  Legislature,  and  all  officers, 
executive,  and  judicial,  except  such  inferior  officers  as 
may  be  by  law  exempted,  shall,  before  they  enter  on 
the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  take  and  sub 
scribe  the  following  oath  or  affirmation. 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm,  as  the  case  may 
be,)  that  I  will  support  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of 
California:  and  that  I  will  faithfully  discharge  the 

duties  of  the  office  of ,  according  to  the  best 

of  my  ability."  And  no  other  oath,  declaration,  or 
test,  shall  be  required  as  a  qualification  for  any  office 
or  public  trust. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


413 


SEC.  4.  The  Legislature  shall  establish  a  system  of 
county  and  town  governments,  which  shall  be  as 
nearly  uniform  as  practicable,  throughout  the  State. 

SEC.  5.  The  Legislature  shall  have  power  to  pro 
vide  for  the  election  of  a  board  of  supervisors  in  each 
county ;  and  these  supervisors  shall,  jointly  and  indi 
vidually,  perform  such  duties  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  law. 

SEC.  6.  All  officers  whose  election  or  appointment 
is  not  provided  for  by  this  constitution,  and  all  officers 
whose  offices  may  hereafter  be  created  by  law,  shall 
be  elected  by  the  people,  or  appointed  as  the  Legisla 
ture  may  direct. 

SEC.  7.  When  the  duration  of  any  office  is  not  pro 
vided  for  by  this  constitution,  it  may  be  declared  by 
law ;  and  of  not  so  declared,  such  office  shall  be  held 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  authority  making  the  ap 
pointment;  nor  shall  the  duration  of  any  office,  not 
fixed  by  this  constitution,  ever  exceed  four  years. 

SEC.  8.  The  fiscal  year  shall  commence  on  the  first 
day  of  July. 

SEC.  9.  Each  county,  town,  city,  and  incorporated 
village,  shall  make  provision  for  the  support  of  its 
own  officers,  subject  to  such  restrictions  and  regula 
tions  as  the  Legislature  may  prescribe. 

SEC.  10.  The  credit  of  the  State  shall  not  in  any 
manner  be  given  or  loaned  to,  or  in  aid  of,  any  indi 
vidual,  association,  or  corporation;  nor  shall  the 
State,  directly  or  indirectly,  become  a  stockholder  in 
any  association  or  corporation. 

SEC.  11.  Suits  may  be  brought  against  the  State, 
in  such  manner,  and  in  such  courts,  as  shall  be  directed 
by  law. 

SEC.  12.  No  contract  of  marriage,  if  otherwise 
35* 


414  HISTORY  OP   CALIFORNIA. 

duly  made,  shall  be  invalidated,  for  want  of  confor 
mity  to  the  requirements  of  any  religious  sect. 

SEC.  13.  Taxation  shall  be  equal  and  uniform 
throughout  the  State.  All  property,  in  this  State, 
shall  be  taxed  in  proportion  to  its  value,  to  be  ascer 
tained  as  directed  by  law;  but  assessors  and  collectors 
of  town,  county,  and  State  taxes,  shall  be  elected  by 
the  qualified  electors  of  the  district,  county,  or  town, 
in  which  the  property  taxed  for  State,  county,  or 
town  purposes  is  situated. 

SEC.  14.  All  property,  both  real  and  personal,  of 
the  wife,  owned  or  claimed  by  her  before  marriage, 
and  that  acquired  afterwards  by  gift,  devise,  or 
descent,  shall  be  her  separate  property;  and  laws 
shall  be  passed  more  clearly  defining  the  rights  of  the 
wife,  in  relation  as  well  to  her  separate  property,  as 
to  that  held  in  common  with  her  husband.  Laws 
shall  also  be  passed  providing  for  the  restoration  of 
the  wife's  separate  property. 

SEC.  15.  The  Legislature  shall  protect  by  law,  from 
forced  sale,  a  certain  portoin  of  the  homestead  and 
other  property  of  all  heads  of  families. 

SEC.  16.  No  perpetuities  shall  be  allowed,  except 
for  eleemosynary  purposes. 

SEC.  17.  Every  person  shall  be  disqualified  from 
holding  any  office  of  profit  in  this  State,  who  shall 
have  been  convicted  of  having  given  or  offered  a  bribe, 
to  procure  his  election  or  appointment. 

SEC.  18.  Laws  shall  be  made  to  exclude  from  office, 
serving  on  juries,  and  from  the  right  of  suffrage,  those 
who  shall  hereafter  be  convicted  of  bribery,  perjury, 
forgery,  or  other  high  crimes.  The  privilege  of  free 
suffrage  shall  be  supported  by  laws  regulating  elec 
tions,  and  prohibiting,  under  adequate  penalties,  all 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


415 


undue  influence  thereon,  from  power,  bribery,  tumult, 
or  other  improper  practice. 

SEC.  19.  Absence  from  this  State  on  business  of 
the  State,  or  of  the  United  States,  shall  not  affect  the 
question  or  residence  of  any  person. 

SBC.  20.  A  plurality  of  the  votes  given  at  any  elec 
tion  .shall  constitute  a  choice,  where  not  otherwise 
directed  in  this  constitution. 

SEC.  21.  All  laws,  decrees,  regulations  and  provi 
sions,  which  from  their  nature  require  publication, 
shall  be  published  in  English  and  Spanish. 

ARTICLE   XII. 

BOUNDARY. 

The  boundary  of  the  State  of  California  shall  be  as 
follows : — 

Commencing  at  the  point  of  intersection  of  the  42d 
degree  of  north  latitude  with  the  120th  degree  of 
longitude  west  from  Greenwich,  and  running  south  on 
the  line  of  said  120th  degree  of  west  longitude  until  it 
intersects  the  39th  degree  of  north  latitude ;  thence 
running  in  a  straight  line  in  a  south-easterly  direction 
to  the  River  Colorado,  at  a  point  where  it  intersects 
the  35th  degree  of  north  latitude ;  thence  down  the 
middle  of  the  channel  of  said  river,  to  the  boundary 
line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  as  esta 
blished  by  the  treaty  of  May  30th,  1848 ;  thence  run 
ning  west  and  along  said  boundary  line  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  extending  therein  three  English  miles ; 
thence  running  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  and  follow 
ing  the  direction  of  the  Pacific  coast  to  the  42d  degree 
of  north  latitude ;  thence  on  the  line  of  said  42d 
degree  of  north  latitude  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


416  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Also  all  the   islands,  harbors  and   bays,  along   and 
adjacent  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

SCHEDULE. 

SEC.  1.  All  rights,  prosecutions,  claims  and  con 
tracts,  as  well  of  individuals  as  of  bodies  corporate, 
and  all  laws  in  force  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of 
this  Constitution,  and  not  inconsistent  therewith,  until 
altered  or  repealed  by  the  Legislature,  shall  continue 
as  if  the  same  had  not  been  adopted. 

SEC.  2.  The  Legislature  shall  provide  for  the  re 
moval  of  all  causes  which  may  be  pending  when  this 
Constitution  goes  into  effect,  to  courts  created  by  the 
same. 

SEC.  3.  In  order  that  no  inconvenience  may  result 
to  the  public  service,  from  the  taking  effect  of  this 
Constitution,  no  office  shall  be  superseded  thereby,  nor 
the  laws  relative  to  the  duties  of  the  several  officers 
be  changed,  until  the  entering  into  office  of  the  new 
officers  to  be  appointed  under  this  Constitution. 

SEC.  4.  The  provisions  of  this  Constitution  con 
cerning  the  term  of  residence  necessary  to  enable 
persons  to  hold  certain  offices  therein  mentioned, 
shall  not  be  held  to  apply  to  officers  chosen  by  the 
people  at  the  first  election,  or  by  the  Legislature  at 
its  first  session. 

SEC.  5.  Every  citizen  of  California,  declared  a  le 
gal  voter  by  this  Constitution,  and  every  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  a  resident  of  this  State  on  the  day  of 
election,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  the  first  general 
election  under  this  Constitution,  and  on  the  question 
of  the  adoption  thereof. 

SEC.  6.  This  Constitution  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
people,  for  their  ratification  or  rejection,  at  the 


HISTORY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


417 


general  election  to  be  held  on  Tuesday,  the  thirteenth 
day  of  November  naxt.  The  Executive  of  the  exist 
ing  government  of  California  is  hereby  requested  to 
issue  a  proclamation  to  the  people,  directing  the  Pre 
fects  of  the  several  districts,  or  in  case  of  vacancy, 
the  Sub-Prefects,  or  senior  Judge  of  First  Instance, 
to  cause  such  election  to  be  held,  on  the  day  afore 
said,  in  their  respective  districts.  The  election  shall 
be  conducted  in  the  manner  which  was  prescribed  for 
the  election  of  delegates  to  this  convention,  except 
that  the  Prefect,  Sub-Prefect,  or  senior  Judge  of  First 
Instance  ordering  such  election  in  each  district,  shall 
have  power  to  designate  any  additional  number  of  places 
for  opening  the  polls,  and  that,  in  every  place  of  hold 
ing  the  election,  a  regular  poll-list  shall  be  kept  by  the 
judges  and  inspectors  of  election.  It  shall  also  be  the 
duty  of  these  judges  and  inspectors  of  election,  on 
the  day  aforesaid,  to  receive  the  votes  of  the  electors 
qualified  to  vote  at  such  election.  Each  voter  shall 
express  his  opinion,  by  depositing  in  the  ballot-box  a 
ticket,  whereon  shall  be  written,  or  printed  "  For  the 
Constitution,"  or  "  Against  the  Constitution,"  or 
some  such  words  as  will  distinctly  convey  the  inten 
tion  of  the  voter.  These  Judges  and  Inspectors  shall 
also  receive  the  votes  for  the  several  officers  to  be 
voted  for  at  the  said  election,  as  herein  provided. 
At  the  close  of  the  election,  the  judges  and  inspec 
tors  shall  carefully  count  each  ballot,  and  forthwith 
make  duplicate  returns  thereof  to  the  Prefect,  Sub- 
Prefect,  or  senior  Judge  of  First  Instance,  as  the 
case  may  be,  of  their  respective  districts ;  and  said 
Prefect,  Sub-Prefect,  or  senior  Judge  of  First  Instance 
shall  transmit  one  of  the  same,  by  the  most  safe  and 
rapid  conveyance,  to  the  Secretary  of  State.  Upon 


418  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  receipt  of  said  returns,  or  on  the  tenth  day  of 
December  next,  if  the  returns  be  not  sooner  received, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  board  of  canvassers,  to  con 
sist  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  one  of  the  Judges  of 
the  Superior  Court,  the  Prefect,  Judge  of  First  In 
stance,  and  an  Alcalde  of  the  District  of  Monterey, 
or  any  three  of  the  aforementioned  officers,  in  the 
presence  of  all  who  shall  choose  to  attend,  to  compare 
the  votes  given  at  said  election,  and  to  immediately 
publish  an  abstract  of  the  same  in  one  or  more  of  the 
newspapers  of  California.  And  the  Executive  will 
also,  immediately  after  ascertaining  that  the  Consti 
tution  has  been  ratified  by  the  people,  make  proclama 
tion  of  the  fact;  and  thenceforth  this  Consitution 
shall  be  ordained  and  established  as  the  Constitution 
of  California. 

SEC.  7.  If  this  Constitution  shall  be  ratified  by  the 
people  of  California,  the  Executive  of  the  existing 
government  is  hereby  requested,  immediately  after 
the  same  shall  be  ascertained,  in  the  manner  herein 
directed,  to  cause  a  fair  copy  thereof  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  order  that 
he  may  lay  it  before  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States. 

SEC.  8.  At  the  general  election  aforesaid,  viz: 
the  thirteenth  day  of  November  next,  there  shall 
be  elected  a  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  mem 
bers  of  the  Legislature,  and  also  two  members  of 
Congress. 

SEC.  9.  If  this  constitution  shall  be  ratified  by  the 
people  of  California,  the  Legislature  shall  assemble 
at  the  seat  of  government,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
December  next,  and  in  order  to  complete  the  organi 
zation  of  that  body,  the  Senate  shall  elect  a  Presi- 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


419 


dent  pro  tempore,  until  the  Lieutenant-Governor  shall 
be  installed  into  office. 

SEC.  10.  On  the  organization  of  the  Legislature,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  to  lay 
before  each  house  a  copy  of  the  abstract  made  by  the 
board  of  canvassers,  and,  if  called  for,  the  original 
returns  of  election,  in  order  that  each  house  may  judge 
of  the  correctness  of  the  report  of  said  board  of  can 
vassers. 

SEC.  11.  The  Legislature,  at  its  first  session,  shall 
elect  such  officers  as  may  be  ordered  by  this  Constitu 
tion,  to  be  elected  by  that  body,  and  within  four  days 
after  its  organization,  proceed  to  elect  two  Senators 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  But  no  law 
passed  by  this  Legislature  shall  take  effect  until  signed 
by  the  Governor,  after  his  installation  into  office. 

SEC.  12.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  elected  by  the  Le 
gislature  and  people  of  California,  as  herein  directed, 
shall  be  furnished  with  certified  copies  of  this  Consti 
tution,  when  ratified,  which  they  shall  lay  before  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  requesting,  in  the  name 
of  the  people  of  California,  the  admission  of  the  State 
of  California  into  the  American  Union. 

SEC.  13.  All  officers  of  this  State,  other  than  mem 
bers  of  the  Legislature,  shall  be  installed  into  office 
on  the  fifteenth  day  of  December  next,  or  as  soon 
thereafter  as  practicable. 

SEC.  14.  Until  the  Legislature  shall  divide  the 
State  into  counties,  and  senatorial  and  assembly  dis 
tricts,  as  directed  by  this  Constitution,  the  following 
shall  be  the  apportionment  of  the  two  houses  of  the 
Legislature,  viz :  the  districts  of  San  Diego  and  Los 
Angeles  shall  jointly  elect  two  senators  ;  the  districts 


420  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

of  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Luis  Obispo  shall  jointly 
elect  one  senator ;  the  district  of  Monterey,  one  sena 
tor  ;  the  district  of  San  Jose,  one  senator ;  the 
district  of  San  Francisco,  two  senators ;  the  district 
of  Sonoma,  one  senator ;  the  district  of  Sacramento, 
four  senators  ;  and  the  district  of  San  Joaquin,  four 
senators : — And  the  district  of  San  Diego  shall  elect 
one  member  of  assembly;  the  district  of  Los  Angeles, 
two  members  of  assembly ;  the  district  of  Santa  Bar 
bara,  two  members  of  assembly ;  the  district  of  San 
Luis  ObispOj  one  member  of  assembly ;  the  district 
of  Monterey,  two  members  of  assembly ;  the  district 
of  San  Jose,  three  members  of  assembly ;  the  district 
of  San  Francisco,  five  members  of  assembly ;  the 
district  of  Sonoma,  two  members  of  assembly  ;  the 
district  of  Sacramento,  nine  members  of  assembly ; 
and  the  district  of  San  Joaquin,  nine  members  of 
assembly. 

SEC.  15.  Until  the  Legislature  shall  otherwise  di 
rect,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Consti 
tution,  the  salary  of  the  Governor  shall  be  ten  thousand 
dollars  per  annum  ;  and  the  salary  of  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  shall  be  double  the  pay  of  a  state  senator ; 
and  the  pay  of  members  of  the  Legislature  shall  be 
sixteen  dollars  per  diem,  while  in  attendance,  and 
sixteen  dollars  for  every  twenty  miles  travel  by  the 
usual  route  from  their  residences,  to  the  place  of  hold 
ing  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  and  in  returning 
therefrom.  And  the  Legislature  shall  fix  the  salaries 
of  all  officers,  other  than  those  elected  by  the  people, 
at  the  first  election. 

SEC.  16.  The  limitation  of  the  powers  of  the  Le 
gislature,  contained  in  article  8th  of  this  Constitution, 
tution,  shall  not  extend  to  the  first  Legislature  elected 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


421 


under  the  same,  which  is  hereby  authorized  to  nego 
tiate  for  such  amount  as  may  be  necessary  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  the  State  government. 

R.  SEMPLE, 
President  of  the  Convention 

and  Delegate  from  Benecia. 
WM.  G.  MARCY,  Secretary. 


J.  Aram, 

C.  T.  Botts, 

E.  Brown, 

J.  A.  Carillo, 

J.  M.  Covarrubias, 

E.  0.  Crosby, 

P.  De  La  Guerra, 

L.  Dent, 

M.  Dominguez, 

K.  H.  Dimmick, 

A.  J.  Ellis, 

S.  C.  Foster, 

E.  Gilbert, 

W.  M.  Gwinn, 

H.  W.  Halleck, 

Julian  Hanks, 

L.  W.  Hastings, 

Henry  Hill, 

J.  Hobson, 

J.  McH.  Hollingsworth, 

J.  D.  Hoppe,  • 

J.  M.  Jones, 

T.  0.  Larkin. 

Francis  J.  Lippitt, 


B.  S.  Lippincott, 
M.  M.  Me  Carver, 
John  McDougal, 
B.  F.  Moore, 
Myron  Norton, 
P.  Ord, 

Miguel  Pedrorena, 
A.  M.  Pico, 
R.  M.  Price, 
Hugo  Reed, 
Jacinto  Rodriguez, 
Pedro  Sansevaine, 
W.  E.  Shannon, 
W.  S.  Sherwood, 
J.  R.  Snyder, 
A.  Stearns, 
W.  M.  Steuart, 
J.  A.  Sutter, 
Henry  A.  Tefft, 
S.  L.  Vermule, 
M.  G.  Vallejo, 
J.  Walker, 
0.  M.  Wozencraft 


29 


422  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

B. 

ADDRESS  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  undersigned,  delegates  to  a  convention  autho 
rized  to  form  a  Constitution  for  the  State  of  California, 
having,  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  discharged  the 
high  trust  committed  to  them,  respectfully  submit  the 
accompanying  plan  of  government  for  your  approval. 
Acknowledging  the  great  fundamental  principles,  that 
all  political  power  is  inherent  in  the  people,  and  that 
government  is  instituted  for  the  protection,  security 
and  benefit  of  the  people,  the  Constitution  presented 
for  your  consideration  is  intended  only  to  give  such 
organic  powers  to  the  several  departments  of  the  pro 
posed  government,  as  shall  be  necessary  for  its  efficient 
administration :  and  while  it  is  believed  no  power  has 
been  given,  which  is  not  thus  essentially  necessary,  the 
convention  deem  individual  rights,  as  well  as  public 
liberty,  are  amply  secured,  by  the  people  still  retain 
ing  not  only  the  great  conservative  power  of  free 
choice  and  election  of  all  officers,  agents,  and  repre 
sentatives,  but  the  unalienable  right  to  alter  or  reform 
their  government,  whenever  the  public  good  may 
require. 

Although  born  in  different  climes,  coming  from  differ 
ent  States,  imbued  with  local  feelings,  and  educated, 
perhaps,  with  predilections  for  peculiar  institutions, 
laws,  and  customs,  the  delegates  assembled  in  conven 
tion  as  Californians,  and  carried  on  their  deliberations 
in  a  spirit  of  amity,  compromise,  and  mutual  conces 
sion  for  the  public  weal. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  a  difference  of  opinion  was 
entertained  in  the  convention,  as  to  the  policy  and 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  423 

expediency  of  several  measures  embodied  in  the  Con 
stitution  ;  but  looking  to  the  great  interests  of  the 
State  of  California,  the  peace,  happiness,  and  pros 
perity  of  the  whole  people, — individual  opinions  were 
freely  surrendered  to  the  will  of  the  majority,  and, 
with  one  voice,  we  respectfully  but  earnestly  recom 
mend  to  our  fellow  citizens  the  adoption  of  the  Con 
stitution  which  we  have  the  honor  to  submit. 

In  establishing  a  boundary  for  the  State,  the  con 
vention  conformed,  as  near  as  was  deemed  practicable 
and  expedient,  to  great  natural  landmarks,  so  as  to 
bring  into  a  union  all  those  who  should  be  included  by 
mutual  interest,  mutual  wants,  and  mutual  dependence. 
No  portion  of  territory  is  included,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  were  not  or  might  not  have  been  legitimately 
represented  in  the  convention,  under  the  authority  by 
which  it  was  convened  ;  and  in  unanimously  resolving 
to  exclude  slavery  from  the  State  of  California,  the 
great  principle  has  been  maintained,  that  to  the  people 
of  each  State  and  Territory,  alone,  belongs  the  right 
to  establish  such  municipal  regulations,  and  to  decide 
such  questions  as  affect  their  own  peace,  prosperity 
and  happiness. 

A  free  people,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  elective 
government,  capable  of  securing  their  civil,  religious, 
and  political  rights,  may  rest  assured  these  inestimable 
privileges  can  never  be  wrested  from  them,  so  long  as 
they  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  the  operations  of  their 
government,  and  hold  to  strict  accountability  those  to 
whom  power  is  delegated.  No  people  were  ever  yet 
enslaved,  who  knew  and  dared  maintain  the  co-relative 
rights  and  obligations  of  free  and  independent  citizens. 
A  knowledge  of  the  laws — their  moral  force  and  effi 
cacy,  thus  becomes  an  essential  element  of  freedom, 


424  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

and  makes  public  education  of  primary  importance. 
In  this  view,  the  Constitution  of  California  provides 
for,  and  guarantees  in  the  most  ample  manner,  the 
establishment  of  common  schools,  seminaries  and  col 
leges,  so  as  to  extend  the  blessings  of  education 
throughout  the  land,  and  secure  its  advantages  to  the 
present  and  future  generations.  Under  the  peculiar 
circumstances  in  which  California  becomes  a  State — 
with  an  unexampled  increase  of  a  population  coming 
from  every  part  of  the  world,  speaking  various  lan 
guages,  and  imbued  with  different  feelings  and  preju 
dices,  no  form  of  government,  no  system  of  laws,  can 
be  expected  to  meet  with  immediate  and  unanimous 
assent.  It  is  to  be  remembered,  moreover,  that  a  con 
siderable  portion  of  our  fellow-citizens  are  natives  of 
Old  Spain,  Californians,  and  those  who  have  volun 
tarily  relinquished  the  rights  of  Mexicans  to  enjoy 
those  of  American  citizens.  Long  accustomed  to  a 
different  form  of  government,  regarding  the  rights  of 
person  and  of  property  as  interwoven  with  ancient 
usages  and  time-honored  customs,  they  may  not  at 
once  see  the  advantages  of  the  proposed  new  govern 
ment,  or  yield  an  immediate  approval  of  new  laws, 
however  salutary  their  provisions,  or  conducive  to  the 
general  welfare.  But  it  is  confidently  believed,  when 
the  government  as  now  proposed  shall  have  gone  into 
successful  operation,  when  each  department  thereof 
shall  move  on  harmoniously  in  its  appropriate  and 
respective  sphere,  when  laws,  based  on  the  eternal 
principles  of  equity  and  justice,  shall  be  established, 
when  every  citizen  of  California,  shall  find  himself 
Becure  in  life,  liberty,  and  property — all  will  unite  in 
the  cordial  support  of  institutions,  which  are  not  only 
the  pride  and  boast  of  every  true-hearted  citizen  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  425 

Union,  but  have  gone  forth,  a  guiding  light  to  every 
people  groping  through  the  gloom  of  religious  super 
stition  or  political  fanaticism — institutions,  which  even 
now,  while  all  Europe  is  agitated  with  the  convulsive 
efforts  of  nations  battling  for  liberty,  have  become  the 
mark  and  model  of  government  for  every  people  who 
would  hold  themselves  free,  sovereign,  and  independent. 

With  this  brief  exposition  of  the  views  and  opinions 
of  the  convention,  the  undersigned  submit  the  Constitu 
tion  and  plan  of  government  for  your  approval.  They 
earnestly  recommend  it  to  your  calm  and  deliberate 
consideration,  and  especially  do  they  most  respectfully 
urge  on  every  voter  to  attend  the  polls. 

The  putting  into  operation  of  a  government  which 
shall  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity, 
promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings 
of  civil,  religious,  and  political  liberty,  should  be  an 
object  of  the  deepest  solicitude  to  every  true-hearted 
citizen,  and  the  consummation  of  his  dearest  wishes. 
The  price  of  liberty  is  eternal  vigilance,  and  thus  it  is 
not  only  the  privilege  but  the  duty  of  every  voter  to 
vote  his  sentiments.  No  freeman  of  this  land  who 
values  his  birthright,  and  would  transmit  unimpaired 
to  his  children  an  inheritance  so  rich  in  glory  and 
honor,  will  refuse  to  give  one  day  to  the  service  of 
his  country.  Let  every  qualified  voter  go  early  to 
the  polls,  and  give  his  free  vote  at  the  election  ap 
pointed  to  be  held  on  Tuesday,  the  13th  day  of  Novem 
ber  next,  not  only  that  a  full  and  fair  expression  of 
the  public  voice  may  be  had,  for  or  against  a  constitu 
tion  intended  to  secure  the  peace,  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  the  whole  people,  but  that  their  numeri 
cal  and  political  strength  may  be  made  manifest,  and 
the  world  see  by  what  majority  of  freemen  California, 
36* 


426 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


the  bright  star  of  the  West,   claims  a  place  in  the 
diadem  of  that  glorious  republic,  formed  by  the  Union 
of  thirty-one  sovereign  States. 
(Signed) 


Josepk  Aram, 
Chas.  T.  Botts, 
Elam  Brown, 
Jose  Anto.  Carillo, 
Jose  M.  Covarrubias, 
Elisha  0.  Crosby, 
Lewis  Dent, 
Manuel  Dominguez, 
K.  H.  Dimmick, 
A.  J.  Ellis, 
Stephen  G.  Foster, 
Pablo  De  La  Guerra, 
Benj.  S.  Lippincott, 
M.  M.  McCarver, 
John  McDougal, 
Benj.  F.  Moore, 
Myron  Norton, 
P.  Ord, 

Miguel  De  Pedrorena, 
Rodman  M.  Price, 
Antonio  M.  Pico, 
Jacinto  Rodrigues, 
Hugh  Reed, 
John  A  Sutter, 


Edw.  Gilbert, 
Wm.  M.  Gwin, 
Julian  Hanks, 
Henry  Hill, 
J.  D.  Hoppe, 
Joseph  Hobson, 
H.  W.  Halleck, 
L.  W.  Hastings, 
J.  McH.  Hollingsworth, 
Jas.  McHall  Jones, 
Thomas  0.  Larkin, 
Francis  J.  Lippitt, 
Jacob  R.  Snyder, 
W.  Scott  Sherwood, 
Wm.  C.  Shannon, 
Pedro  Sansevain, 
Abel  Stearns, 
W.  M.  Steuart, 
R.  Semple, 
Henry  A  Tefft, 
M.  G.  Vallejo, 
Thos.  L.  Vermule, 
Joel  P.  Walker, 
0.  M.  Wozencraft. 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA.  427 


MESSAGE  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES, 

Transmitting  information  in  answer  to  a  resolution  of  the  House 
of  the  3lst  of  December,  1849,  on  the  subject  of  California  and 
New  Mexico. 

To  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES, — I  transmit  to  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  in  answer  to  a  resolution  of  that  body 
passed  on  the  81st  of  December  last,  the  accompany 
ing  reports  of  heads  of  departments,  which  contain 
all  the  official  information  in  the  possession  of  the 
Executive  asked  for  by  the  resolution. 

On  coming  into  office,  I  found  the  military  com 
mandant  of  the  department  of  California  exercising 
the  functions  of  civil  governor  in  that  Territory ;  and 
left,  as  I  was,  to  act  under  the  treaty  of  Guada- 
lupe  Hidalgo,  without  the  aid  of  any  legislative  pro 
vision  establishing  a  government  in  that  Territory,  I 
thought  it  not  best  to  disturb  that  arrangement,  made 
under  my  predecessor,  until  Congress  should  take 
some  action  on  that  subject.  I  therefore  did  not 
interfere  with  the  powers  of  the  military  commandant, 
who  continued  to  exercise  the  functions  of  civil 
governor  as  before ;  but  I  made  no  such  appointment, 
conferred  no  such  authority,  and  have  allowed  no 
increased  compensation  to  the  commandant  for  his 
services. 

With  a  view  to  the  faithful  execution  of  the  treaty, 
so  far  as  lay  in  the  power  of  the  Executive,  and  to 
enable  Congress  to  act,  at  the  present  session,  with  as 


428  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA 

full  knowledge  and  as  little  difficulty  as  possible,  on 
all  matters  of  interest  in  these  Territories,  I  sent  tlio 
honorable  Thomas  Butler  King  as  bearer  of  despatches 
to  California,  and  certain  officers  to  California  and 
New  Mexico,  whose  duties  are  particularly  defined  in 
the  accompanying  letters  of  instruction  addressed  to 
them  severally  by  the  proper  departments. 

I  did  not  hesitate  to  express  to  the  people  of  those 
Territories  my  desire  that  each  Territory  should,  if 
prepared  to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States,  form  a  plan  of  a  State 
Constitution  and  submit  the  same  to  Congress,  with  a 
prayer  for  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State ;  but  I 
did  not  anticipate,  suggest,  or  authorize  the  establish 
ment  of  any  such  government  without  the  assent  of 
Congress ;  nor  did  I  authorize  any  government  agent 
or  officer  to  interfere  with  or  exercise  any  influence  or 
control  over  the  election  of  delegates,  or  over  any 
convention,  in  making  or  modifying  their  domestic 
institutions,  or  any  of  the  provisions  of  their  proposed 
Constitution.  On  the  contrary,  the  instructions  given 
by  my  orders  were,  that  all  measures  of  domestic 
policy  adopted  by  the  people  of  California  must 
originate  solely  with  themselves ;  that  while  the  Exe 
cutive  of  the  United  States  was  desirous  to  protect 
them  in  the  formation  of  any  government  republican 
in  its  character,  to  be  at  the  proper  time,  submitted 
to  Congress,  yet  it  was  to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  the  plan  of  such  a  government  must,  at  the  same 
time,  be  the  result  of  their  own  deliberate  choice,  and 
originate  with  themselves,  without  the  interference  of 
the  Executive. 

I  am  unable  to  give  any  information  as  to  laws 
passed  by  any  supposed  government  in  California,  or 


HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


429 


of  any  census  taken  in  cither  of  the  Territories  men 
tioned  in  the  resolution,  as  I  have  no  information  on 
those  subjects. 

As  already  stated,  I  have  not  disturbed  the  ar 
rangements  which  I  found  had  existed  under  my 
predecessor. 

In  advising  an  early  application  by  the  people  of 
these  Territories  for  admission  as  States,  I  was  actu 
ated  principally  by  an  earnest  desire  to  afford  to  the 
wisdom  and  patriotism  of  Congress  the  opportunity 
of  avoiding  occasions  of  bitter  and  angry  dissensions 
among  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

Under  the  Constitution,  every  State  has  the  right 
of  establishing,  and,  from  time  to  time,  altering  its 
municipal  laws  and  domestic  institutions,  independent 
ly  of  every  other  State  and  of  the  general  govern 
ment  ;  subject  only  to  the  prohibitions  and  guaranties 
expressly  set  forth  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  The  subjects  thus  left  exclusively  to  the 
respective  States  were  not  designed  or  expected  to 
become  topics  of  national  agitation.  Still,  as,  under 
the  Constitution,  Congress  has  power  to  make  all 
needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  Territories 
of  the  United  States,  every  new  acquisition  of  terri 
tory  has  led  to.  discussions  on  the  question  whether 
the  system  of  involuntary  servitude  which  prevails  in 
many  of  the  States  should  or  should  not  be  prohibited 
in  that  Territory.  The  periods  of  excitement  from 
this  cause  which  have  heretofore  occurred  have  been 
safely  passed ;  but  during  the  interval,  of  whatever 
length,  which  may  elapse  before  the  admission  of  the 
Territories  ceded  by  Mexico  as  States,  it  appears 
probable  that  similar  excitement  will  prevail  to  an 
undue  extent. 


430  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  thought,  and  still 
think,  that  it  was  my  duty  to  endeavor  to  put  it  in 
the  power  of  Congress,  by  the  admission  of  California 
and  New  Mexico  as  States,  to  remove  all  occasion  for 
the  unnecessary  agitation  of  the  public  mind. 

It  is  understood  that  the  people  of  the  western  part 
of  California  have  formed  a  plan  of  a  State  Constitu 
tion,  and  will  soon  submit  the  same  to  the  judgment 
of  Congress,  and  apply  for  admission  as  a  State. 
This  course  on  their  part,  though  in  accordance  with, 
was  not  adopted  exclusively  in  consequence  of, 
any  expression  of  my  wishes  inasmuch  as  measures 
tending  to  this  end  had  been  promoted  by  the  officers 
sent  there  by  my  predecessor,  and  were  already  in 
active  progress  of  execution  before  any  communica 
tion  from  me  reached  California.  If  the  proposed 
Constitution  shall,  when  submitted  to  Congress,  be 
found  to  be  in  compliance  with  the  requisitions  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  I  earnestly  recom 
mend  that  it  may  receive  the  sanction  of  Congress. 

The  part  of  California  not  included  in  the  proposed 
State  of  that  name  is  believed  to  be  uninhabited,  ex 
cept  in  a  settlement  of  our  countrymen  in  the  vicinity 
of  Salt  Lake. 

A  claim  has  been  advanced  by  the  State  of  Texas 
to  a  very  large  portion  of  the  most  populous  district 
of  New  Mexico.  If  the  people  of  New  Mexico  had 
formed  a  plan  of  a  State  government  for  that  Terri 
tory  as  ceded  by  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo, 
and  had  been  admitted  by  Congress  as  a  State,  our 
Constitution  would  have  afforded  the  means  of  obtain 
ing  an  adjustment  of  the  question  of  boundary  with 
Texas  by  a  judicial  decision.  At  present,  however, 
no  judicial  tribunal  has  the  power  of  deciding  that 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


431 


question,  and  it  remains  for  Congress  to  devise  some 
mode  for  its  adjustment.  Meanwhile,  I  submit  to  Con 
gress  the  question  whether  it  would  be  expedient, 
before  such  adjustment,  to  establish  a  territorial 
government,  which,  by  including  the  district  so 
claimed,  would  practically  decide  the  question  ad 
versely  to  the  State  of  Texas,  or,  by  excluding  it, 
would  decide  it  in  her  favor.  In  my  opinion,  such  a 
course  would  not  be  expedient,  especially  as  the  peo 
ple  of  this  Territory  still  enjoy  the  benefit  and  pro 
tection  of  their  municipal  laws,  originally  derived 
from  Mexico,  and  have  a  military  force  stationed 
there  to  protect  them  against  the  Indians.  It  is  un 
doubtedly  true  that  the  property,  lives,  liberties,  and 
religion  of  the  people  of  New  Mexico  are  better  pro 
tected  than  they  ever  were  before  the  treaty  of  cession. 
Should  Congress,  when  California  shall  present  her 
self  for  incorporation  into  the  Union,  annex  a  condi 
tion  to  her  admission  as  a  State  affecting  her  domes 
tic  institutions,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  her  people, 
and  even  compel  her  temporarily,  to  comply  with  it, 
yet  the  State,  could  change  her  Constitution  at  any 
time  after  admission,  when  to  her  it  should  seem 
expedient.  Any  attempt  to  deny  to  the  people  of  the 
State  the  right  of  self-government,  in  a  matter  which 
peculiarly  affects  themselves,  will  infallibly  be  re 
garded  by  them  as  an  invasion  of  their  rights ;  and, 
upon  the  principles  laid  down  in  our  own  Declaration 
of  Independence,  they  will  certainly  be  sustained  by 
the  g^eat  mass  of  the  American  people.  To  assert 
that  they  are  a  conquered  people,  and  must,  as  a 
State,  submit  to  the  will  of  their  conquerors  in  this 
regard,  will  meet  with  no  cordial  response  among 
American  freemen.  Great  numbers  of  them  are  na- 


432  HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

tivc  citizens  of  the  United  States  not  inferior  to  the 
rest  of  our  countrymen  in  intelligence  and  patriotism  ; 
and  no  language  of  menace,  to  restrain  them  in  the 
exercise  of  an  undoubted  right,  guarantied  to  them 
by  the  treaty  of  cession  itself,  shall  ever  be  uttered 
by  me,  or  encouraged  and  sustained  by  persons  acting 
under  my  authority.  It  is  to  be  expected  that,  in  the 
residue  of  the  Territory  ceded  to  us  by  Mexico,  the 
people  residing  there  will,  at  the  time  of  their  incor 
poration  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  settle  all  questions 
of  domestic  policy  to  suit  themselves.  No  material 
inconvenience  will  result  from  the  want,  for  a  short 
period,  of  a  government  established  by  Congress  over 
that  part  of  the  Territory  which  lies  eastward  of  the 
new  State  of  California ;  and  the  reasons  for  my 
opinion  that  New  Mexico  will,  at  no  very  distant  pe 
riod,  ask  for  admission  into  the  Union,  are  founded  on 
un-official  information,  which,  I  suppose,  is  common  to 
all  who  have  cared  to  make  inquiries  on  that  subject. 
Seeing,  then,  that  the  question  which  now  excites 
such  painful  sensations  in  the  country  will,  in  the  end, 
certainly  be  settled  by  the  silent  effect  of  causes  inde 
pendent  of  the  action  of  Congress,  I  again  submit  to 
your  wisdom  the  policy  recommended  in  my  annual 
message,  of  awaiting  the  salutary  operation  of  those 
causes,  believing  that  we  shall  thus  avoid  the  creation 
of  geographical  parties,  and  secure  the  harmony  of 
feeling  so  necessary  to  the  beneficial  action  of  our 
political  system.  Connected  as  the  Union  is  with  the 
remembrance  of  past  happiness,  the  sense  of  present 
blessings,  and  the  hope  of  future  peace  and  prosperity, 
every  dictate  of  wisdom,  every  feeling  of  duty,  and 
every  emotion  of  patriotism,  tend  to  inspire  fidelity 
and  devotion  to  it,  and  admonish  us  cautiously  to  avoid 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  433 

any  unnecessary  controversy  which  can  either  en 
danger  it  or  impair  its  strength,  the  chief  element  of 
which  is  to  be  found  in  the  regard  and  affection  of  the 
people  for  each  other. 

Z.   TAYLOR. 
WASHINGTON  CITY,  D.  C.,  January  21st,  1850. 


D. 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

Monterey,  August  80,  1849. 

GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  herewith, 
copies  of  civil  papers  and  letters  issued  by  me  since 
my  despatch  of  June  30,  and  to  continue  my  report 
on  the  civil  affairs  of  this  country  from  this  date. 

Accompanied  by  Captain  Halleck,  Secretary  of 
State  for  California,  and  Major  Canby,  Captain  \Yes- 
cott,  and  Lieutenant  Derby,  of  my  military  staff,  I 
left  this  place  on  the  5th  July  for  the  purpose  of  in 
specting  the  military  posts  in  the  interior,  and  of 
learning  from  personal  observation  the  actual  state 
of  affairs  in  the  mineral  regions,  and  also  of  allaying, 
so  far  as  I  could,  the  hostile  feeling  which  was  said  to 
exist  between  the  Americans  and  foreigners  who  were 
working  in  the  gold  placers.  My  report  on  the  state 
of  the  troops  and  a  more  detailed  account  of  my  tour 
will  be  forwarded  with  my  military  papers. 

Passing  the  mission  of  San  Juan  Bautista,  we 
crossed  the  coast  range  of  mountains  near  the  ranche 
of  Senor  Pacheco,  and  struck  the  San  Joaquin  River 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Merced;  and,  after  visiting 
Major  Miller's  camp  on  the  Stanislaus,  we  proceeded 
to  examine  the  principal  placers  on  the  tributaries  of 
37 


434  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

that  river  and  of  the  Tuolumne.  These  washings  or 
diggings  have  been  among  the  richest  and  most  pro 
ductive*  in  California. 

They  are  situated  within  a  circuit  of  some  twelve 
or  fifteen  miles,  and  are  known  as  Jamestown,  Wood's 
Creek,  Sonoranian  Camp,  Sullivan's  Creek,  Curtis's 
Creek,  French  Creek,  Carson's  Creek,  and  Aiigelo 
Creek.  Some  of  these  have  become  places  of  consi 
derable  business,  particularly  the  Sonoranian  Camp, 
which  presents  the  appearance  of  a  city  of  canvas  houses. 

Passing  the  Stanislaus  River  in  the  mountains,  we 
proceeded  to  Major  Kingsbury's  camp  near  the  mouth 
of  the  American  River,  crossing  in  our  route  the 
Calaveras,  Moquelume,  Seco,  and  Cosumnes  Rivers; 
all  of  which  have  rich  washings  near  their  sources, 
and  on  their  bars  and  islands.  From  Major  Kings 
bury's  camp  we  ascended  the  American  River  to  Cul- 
lamo  Hills,  where  the  first  placer  was  discovered  by 
Captain  Sutter's  employees  in  the  spring  of  1848. 
From  Cullamo  we  crossed  the  country  to  Stockton,  a 
new  town  on  an  estero  some  distance  above  the  mouth 
of  the  San  Joaquin,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Colonel 
Cazey's  camp  at  the  straits  of  Carquinnes ;  returning 
via  San  Francisco  to  Monterey,  which  place  we 
reached  on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  instant. 

We  found  the  country  at  this  season  dry  and 
parched  by  the  sun,  the  heat  of  which  became  very 
great  the  moment  we  crossed  the  coast  range  of  moun 
tains.  The  thermometer  ranges  as  high  as  113°  Fah. 
in  the  shade,  and  above  140°  Fah.  in  tlie  sun.  A 
great  portion  of  the  valley  of  the  Joaquin  is  so  barren 
as  scarcely  to  afford  subsistence  for  our  animals,  and 
can  never  be  of  much  value  for  agricultural  purposes. 
There,  however,  is,  some  excellent  land  on  the  east 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


435 


side  of  that  river,  bordering  its  large  tributaries.  A 
considerable  portion  of  the  valleys  of  the  Moquelume, 
Seco,  Cosumnes,  and  American  Pavers  is  also  well 
adapted  to  agriculture;  and  the  broad  plains  lying 
between  them  furnish  abundant  pasture  for  raising 
stock.  But  the  amount  of  good  arable  land,  as  com 
pared  with  the  extent  of  country  which  we  passed 
over,  is  small,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the 
richness  and  extreme  fertility  of  certain  localities 
have  led  to  erroneous  conclusions  respecting  the 
general  character  of  the  country.  Certain  it  is,  that 
while  there  may  be  found  sufficient  arable  lands  to 
support,  if  well  cultivated,  a  numerous  population, 
here  is  also  a  very  great  extent  of  rough  and  moun 
tainous  country  and  sandy  and  barren  plains  which 
are  of  little  value.  The  great  difficulty  to  be  en 
countered  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  some  portions  of 
California  is  the  want  of  water  for  irrigation;  but 
possibly  this  difficulty  may  be  overcome  in  part  by 
resorting  to  artesian  wells.  If  so,  much  of  the  public 
land  which  is  now  unsaleable  may  be  brought  into 
market,  and  the  settlement  of  the  country  greatly  ac 
celerated.  I  would,  therefore,  suggest  whether  it 
may  not  be  advisable  for  our  government  to  direct 
some  experiments  to  be  made  at  the  public  expense  in 
sinking  wells  of  this  character,  for  even  if  unsuccess 
ful  as  a  means  of  irrigation,  their  construction  will 
greatly  assist  in  determining  the  geological  character 
of  the  country.  At  present  nearly  all  agricultural 
labors  are  suspended  in  the  general  scramble  for  gold ; 
but  the  enormous  prices  paid  for  fruit  and  vegetables 
in  the  towns  will  undoubtedly  induce  many,  during 
the  coming  year,  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  cultiva 
tion  of  the  soil.  The  failure  on  the  part  of  Congress, 


436  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

at  its  last  session,  to  authorize  the  sale  of  public  lands 
in  California,  has  proved  detrimental  to  the  agricul 
tural  interest  of  the  country. 

A  large  number  of  those  who  have  recently  emi 
grated  to  California  are  desirous  to  locate  themselves 
permanently  in  the  country,  and  to  cultivate  the  soil, 
but  the  uncertainty  which  exists  with  respect  to  the 
validity  of  land  titles  in  California,  and  to  what  actu 
ally  constitutes  the  public  domain,  serves  as  a  serious 
check  to  the  forming  of  new  agricultural  settlements  ; 
moreover,  speculators  are  purchasing  up  fraudulent 
and  invalid  titles  to  large  tracts  of  the  public  domain, 
and  selling  them  off  in  parcels,  and  at  enormous  profits, 
to  those  who  have  recently  arrived  in  the  country,  and 
who  are  necessarily  ignorant  of  the  real  state  of  the 
case.  All  the  mission  lands  in  California  were  secu 
larized,  or  made  government  property,  by  a  law  of 
Mexico,  dated  August  17th,  1833,  and  the  territorial 
government  of  California,  under  the  authority  of  the 
Mexican  laws,  leased  and  sold  a  portion  of  these  lands 
and  mission  property.  Another  portion  of  this  pro 
perty,  however,  still  remained  unsold  when  the  Ameri 
cans  took  possession  of  the  country,  and  it  has  since 
been  left  in  the  hands  of  government  agents  for  pre 
servation.  Erroneously  supposing  that  these  lands  are 
subject  to  pre-emption  laws,  some  of  the  recent  emi 
grants  have  attempted  to  settle  upon  them. 

But  I  cannot  deem  myself  justifiable  in  permitting 
this,  for  I  do  not  conceive  that  lands  which  have  been 
under  cultivation  for  half  a  century,  and  now  belong 
to  government,  can  be  subject  to  the  pre-emption 
claims  of  private  individuals,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  uncultivated  lands  of  the  public  domain.  It  is, 
however,  important  for  the  interest  of  the  country  that 


HISTOKY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


437 


these  mission  lands  be  brought  into  market  with  the 
least  possible  delay,  and  also  that  provision  be  made 
by  law  for  the  settlement  and  sale  of  other  public  lands 
in  California.  And  as  disputes  are  almost  daily  occur 
ring  between  _  individuals  respecting  the  extent  of 
their  several  claims,  and  the  validity  of  their  titles,  1 
would  urge  upon  our  government  the  necessity  of 
immediately  taking  measures  for  the  speedy  and  final 
settlement  of  these  titles  upon  principles  of  equity  and 
justice.  This  is  absolutely  essential  for  the  peace 
and  prosperity  of  the  country. 

For  information  connected  with  this  subject,  I  beg 
leave  to  call  attention,  to  the  report  of  Captain  Hal- 
leek,  Secretary  of  State  for  California,  which  was 
forwarded  to  Washington  by  my  predecessor,  in  the 
early  part  of  April  last. 

Before  leaving  Monterey  I  heard  numerous  rumors 
of  irregularities  and  crimes  among  those  working  in 
the  placers ;  but,  on  visiting  the  mining  regions,  I 
was  agreeably  surprised  to  learn  that  every  thing  was 
quite  the  reverse  from  what  had  been  represented, 
and  that  order  and  regularity  were  preserved  through 
out  almost  the  entire  extent  of  the  mineral  districts. 
In  each  little  settlement,  or  tented  town,  the  miners 
have  elected  their  local  alcaldes  and  constables,  whose 
judicial  decisions  and  official  acts  are  sustained  by  the 
people,  and  enforced  with  much  regularity  and  energy. 
It  is  true,  that  in  a  few  instances  certain  local  ques 
tions  have  produced  temporary  excitements  and  diffi 
culties,  but  none  of  these  have  been  of  a  very  important 
character,  or  led  to  serious  results.  Alcaldes  have 
probably  in  some  cases,  and  under  peculiar  circum 
stances,  exercised  judicial  powers  which  were  never 
conferred  upon  them  by  law ;  but  the  general  result 
37* 


30 


438  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

has  been  favorable  to  the  preservation  of  order  and 
the  dispensation  of  justice. 

The  old  placers  are  still  exceedingly  productive,  and 
new  ones  are  almost  daily  discovered  in  the  smaller 
streams  running  from  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  into  the  great  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and 
San  Joaquin  Rivers. 

I  am  satisfied,  however,  from  personal  observation, 
that  very  exaggerated  accounts  have  been  sent  to 
the  United  States  respecting  the  ease  with  which  the 
precious  metal  is  extracted  from  the  earth,  and  that 
many  who  come  to  this  country  with  the  expectation 
of  acquiring  sudden  wealth,  with  little  or  no  labor,  will 
be  sadly  disappointed.  It  is  true  that  the  reward  of 
labor  in  the  mines  is  very  high  ;  but  it  should  not  be 
forgotten  that  gold  digging  and  gold  washing  in  that 
climate  require  strong  constitutions  and  great  physical 
exertions,  and  very  few  need  expect  to  acquire  for 
tunes  by  working  the  placers,  without  severe  labor 
and  fixed  habits  of  industry  and  temperance.  The 
yield  of  different  localities  is,  of  course,  very  different, 
some  of  the  placers  being  exceedingly  rich,  while  the 
product  of  others  is  scarcely  sufficient  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  working.  But  I  think  the  general  averages 
per  diem,  for  those  actually  employed  in  washing  for 
gold,  will  not  vary  much  from  an  ounce  or  an  ounce 
and  a  half  per  man  ;  some  make  much  jnore  than  that 
sum,  while  those  who  are  less  fortunate  fall  much  short 
of  it.  The  actual  number  of  persons  working  the 
placers  will  not  vary  much  from  ten  thousand.  The 
entire  population  now  in  the  mining  district  is  much 
greater  than  that  number ;  but  many  are  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  and  in  transporting  goods  and 
provisions,  while  others  employ  much  of  their  time  in 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


439 


"prospecting,"  or  looking  for  newer  and  richer  locali 
ties. 

I  also  found  that  the  reports  which  had  reached  me 
of  hostilities  between  Americans  and  foreigners,  in 
the  mining  districts,  were  greatly  exaggerated,  and 
that,  with  a  few  individual  exceptions,  every  thing  had 
remained  quiet  and  orderly.  In  some  of  the  northern 
placers  a  party  of  Americans  and  Europeans,  urged 
on  by  political  aspirants,  who  seem  willing  to  endanger 
the  peace  and  tranquillity  of  the  country,  in  order  to 
promote  their  own  personal  interest,  have  assumed  the 
authority  to  order  all  Mexicans  and  South  Americans 
from  that  part  of  the  territory.  Their  orders  were 
quietly  submitted  to  by  the  foreigners,  a  portion  of 
whom  removed  to  the  mines  further  south,  where  the 
American  population  manifested  a  very  decided  dispo 
sition  to  afford  them  protection  should  they  be  further 
molested.  The  more  intelligent  and  thinking  portion 
of  Americans  regard  this  measure  as  illegal  and  inju 
dicious,  and  will  discountenance  any  repetition  of 
movements  so  well  calculated  to  disturb  the  public 
tranquillity,  and  to  create  bitter  and  exasperated  feel 
ings,  where  it  is  evidently  our  policy  to  cultivate  those 
of  the  most  friendly  character.  Some  of  the  English, 
Irish,  and  German  emigrants,  in  the  northern  placers, 
assisted  in  this  movement  against  the  Mexicans,  Peru 
vians,  and  Chilians,  and  probably  exerted  themselves 
much  more  than  any  of  our  own  citizens  to  create  a 
prejudice  and  excitement  against  the  Spanish  race. 
They  were  probably  actuated  by  pecuniary  interest. 
The  great  influx  of  people  from  the  southern  portion 
of  this  continent  was  diminishing  the  price  of  labor  in 
the  towns  near  the  northern  rivers,  and  the  large 
number  of  pack  animals  brought  from  Lower  Califor- 


440  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

nia  and  Sonora  was  producing  a  corresponding  reduc 
tion  in  the  expenses  of  transportation. 

For  example,  the  price  of  a  pack  mule  in  some 
parts  of  the  mining  districts  a  few  months  ago  was 
about  $500,  whereas  they  can  now  be  purchased  for 
less  than  $150.  The  cost  of  transportation  from  the 
principal  landing  on  the  San  Joaquin  River  to  the 
Sonoranian  camp  was  $75  per  hundred,  whereas  at  the 
present  time  it  is  only  about  $7. 

This  has  reduced  the  prices  of  provisions  in  the 
placers  one  and  two  hundred  per  cent.  Some  of  the 
merchants  who  had  large  stocks  of  goods  in  the  mines, 
and  those  who  were  engaged  in  transportation  at  the 
prices  formerly  paid,  have  suffered  by  the  change, 
and  it  is  natural  that  they  should  feel  incensed  against 
that  class  of  foreigners  who  have  contributed  most  to 
effect  it. 

But  it  is  thought  by  others  that  the  great  majority 
of  the  laborers  and  consumers  in  the  mining  districts 
have  been  benefited  by  this  change,  and  that  it  would 
be  injurious  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country  to  restore 
things  to  their  former  state  by  the  expulsion  and  pro 
hibition  of  foreigners  from  the  mines. 

Americans,  by  their  superior  intelligence  and 
shrewdness  in  business,  generally  contrive  to  turn  to 
their  own  benefit  the  earnings  of  the  Mexicans, 
Chilians,  and  Peruvians  in  this  country,  and  any 
measure  of  exclusiveness  which  is  calculated  to  diminish 
the  productive  labor  of  California  would  be  of  exceed 
ingly  doubtful  policy. 

When  applied  to  by  the  different  parties  for  my 
opinion  on  the  question  of  expelling  foreigners,  I  have 
uniformly  told  them  that  no  persons,  native  Americans 
or  foreigners,  have  any  legal  right  to  dig  gold  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


441 


public  lands  ;  but  that,  until  the  government  of  the 
United  States  should  act  in  the  matter,  they  would 
not  be  molested  in  their  pursuits  ;  that  I  could  not 
countenance  any  class  of  men  in  their  attempts  to 
monopolize  the  "working  of  the  mines,  and  that  all 
questions  touching  the  temporary  right  of  individuals 
to  work  in  particular  localities,  of  which  they  were  in 
actual  possession,  should  be  left  to  the  decision  of  the 
local  judicial  authorities. 

I  cannot  close  my  remarks  on  this  subject  without 
again  calling  the  attention  of  government  to  the 
importance  of  establishing  a  mint  in  California  at  the 
earliest  moment. 

This  measure  is  called  for  by  every  consideration 
of  natural  policy  and  of  justice  to  the  mercantile 
mining  population  of  California. 

General  Kearny,  during  his  administration  of  affairs 
in  this  country,  appointed,  by  virtue  of  his  authority 
as  governor  of  California,  two  sub-Indian  agents,  who 
have  ever  since  been  continued  in  office,  and  their 
services  found  of  great  utility  in  preserving  harmony 
among  the  wild  tribes,  and  in  regulating  their  inter 
course  with  the  whites. 

They  have  been  paid  from  the  "  civil  fund"  very 
moderate  salaries,  which  will  be  continued  until  arri 
vals  of  agents  regularly  appointed  by  the  general 
government.  Notwithstanding  every  effort  on  the 
part  of  those  agents  and  of  the  officers  of  the  army 
here,  it  has  not  been  possible  at  all  times  to  prevent 
aggression  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  or  to  restrain 
the  Indians  from  avenging  these  injuries  in  their  own 
way. 

In  the  month  of  April  last,  the  agent  in  the  Sacra 
mento  valley  reported  that  a  body  of  Oregonians  and 


442  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

mountaineers  had  committed  most  horrible  barbarities 
on  the  defenceless  Indians  in  that  vicinity. 

Those  cruel  and  inhuman  proceedings,  added,  per 
haps,  to  the  execution  of  a  number  of  chiefs  some  year 
and  a  half  since  by  a  military  force  sent  into  the  San 
Joaquin  valley  by  my  predecessor,  (the  facts  of  which 
were  reported  to  Washington  at  the  time,)  have  neces 
sarily  produced  a  hostile  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
natives,  and  several  small  parties  of  whites,  who,  in 
their  pursuit  of  gold,  ventured  too  far  into  the  Indian 
country,  have  been  killed. 

My  correspondence  with  the  Indian  agents  and 
military  officers  established  in  the  Sacramento  and 
San  Joaquin  valleys  will  inform  you  of  the  measures 
taken  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  these  difficulties.  > 

I  would  respectfully  recommend  that  at  least  three 
sub-Indian  agents  be  appointed  for  this  country,  and 
stationed  in  the  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  San 
Joaquin. 

These  agents  should  receive  ample  pay  in  order  to 
enable  them  to  defray  the  expenses  of  living  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  and  should  be  men  of  the  highest 
moral  character ;  for  otherwise  they  would  not  resist 
the  temptation  to  engage  in  illicit  trade  with  the 
natives,  or  to  employ  them  for  the  individual  benefit 
of  the  agents  in  washing  for  gold. 

The  election  called  by  me  for  the  1st  instant  was 
held  on  that  day,  and  has  been  attended  with  the 
most  happy  results. 

Every  district  has  elected  its  local  officers,  and 
appointed  delegates  to  meet  in  general  convention  at 
this  place  on  the  1st  proximo,  to  form  a  State  Con 
stitution  or  plan  of  territorial  government,  which  will 
be  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  ratification,  and 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  443 

transmitted  to  Washington  for  the  action  of  Con 
gress. 

Most  of  the  local  and  judicial  officers  named  in  my 
proclamation  of  the  3d  of  June,  have  already  entered 
upon  their  duties,  and  the  interest  which  was  taken 
by  the  people  in  every  part  of  the  country  in  this 
election,  and  the  zeal  manifested  by  those  elected  and 
appointed  to  office,  afford  strong  hopes  that  the  exist 
ing  government  will  be  able  to  preserve  order  and 
secure  the  administration  of  justice  until  a  new  one 
shall  be  put  into  regular  and  successful  operation. 

In  my  former  despatch  I  mentioned  that  the  civil 
officers  of  the  existing  government  would  be  paid  their 
regular  salaries  from  the  "civil  funds,"  which  had 
been  formed,  under  the  direction  of  the  governor  of 
California,  mainly  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  temporary 
custom-houses  established  by  my  predecessors  on  this 
coast. 

v 

It  will  also  be  necessary  to  use  a  portion  of  this 
fund  in  the  immediate  construction  of  jails  for  the 
security  of  civil  prisoners. 

The  want  of  such  jails  has  already  led  to  the  most 
serious  inconveniencies ;  prisoners  have  so  frequently 
effected  their  escape,  that,  on  several  occasions,  the 
people  have  risen  in  masses  and  executed  criminals 
immediately  after  trial,  and  without  waiting  for  the 
due  fulfilment  of  all  the  requisitions  of  the  laws. 

In  many  cases  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  confine 
civil  prisoners  on  board  vessels  of  war,  and  in  the 
guard-houses  of  the  garrison ;  but  in  towns,  at  a  dis 
tance  from  the  coast  and  the  military  posts,  the  diffi 
culty  of  retaining  prisoners  in  custody  has  led,  in  some 
instances,  to  immediate  and  summary  executions. 

This  evil  calls  for  an  immediate  remedy,  which  will 


444  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

be  afforded,  so  far  as  the  means  at  my  disposal  will 
admit. 

I  beg  leave,  in  this  place,  to  add  a  few  remarks  on 
the  use  which  has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  made 
of  this  "civil  fund." 

In  the  instructions  from  Washington  to  General 
Kearny,  in  1846,  for  his  guidance  in  California,  the 
establishment  of  port  regulations  on  this  coast  was 
assigned  to  the  commander  of  the  Pacific  squadron, 
while  it  was  said  "  the  appointment  of  temporary  col 
lectors  at  the  several  ports  appertains  to  the  civil 
governor  of  the  province." 

It  was  also  directed  that  the  duties  at  the  custom 
houses  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  necessary 
officers  of  the  civil  government.  This  division  of 
duties,  and  this  disposition  of  the  proceeds  of  the 
customs  were  continued  during  the  whole  war. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  Treasury  Department  regu 
lations  respecting  the  collection  of  military  contri 
butions  in  Mexico,  officers  of  the  army  and  navy 
were  made  collectors  at  some  of  the  ports,  but  at 
others  the  civil  collectors  appointed  by  the  Governor 
of  California  were  retained. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Governor  Mason,  for  rea 
sons  already  communicated,  determined  to  continue 
the  collection  of  revenue  in  the  country,  on  the  au 
thority  which  had  previously  been- given  to  him,  until 
Congress  should  act  in  the  matter,  or  orders  to  the 
contrary  be  received  from  Washington.  He,  there 
fore,  as  governor  of  California,  again  appointed  civil 
collectors  in  the  ports  where  military  officers  had  tem 
porarily  performed  those  duties,  and  collected  the 
customs  on  all  foreign  goods,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  tariff  of  1846,  while  the  commander 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


445 


of  the  Pacific  squadron  continued  tho  direction  of 
all  matters  relating  to  port  regulations.  A  double 
necessity  impelled  the  governor  to  this  course.  The 
country,  was  in  pressing  need  of  these  foreign  goods, 
and  Congress  had  established  no  port  of  entry  on  this 
coast.  The  want  of  a  more  complete  organization  of 
the  existing  civil  government  was  daily  increasing,  and, 
as  Congress  had  made  no  provisions  for  supporting  a 
government  in  this  country,  it  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  create  a  fund  for  that  purpose  from  the  duties  col 
lected  on  these  foreign  goods.  It  is  true  that  there 
were  no  laws  authorizing  the  collection  of  these 
duties ;  but  at  the  same  time  the  laws  forbade  the 
landing  of  the  goods  till  the  duties  were  paid.  Gov 
ernor  Mason,  therefore,  had  no  alternative  but  to 
pursue  the  course  which  he  adopted.  He  immediately 
communicated  to  Washington  his  action  in  the  case ; 
and  as  the  receipt  of  his  despatch  was  acknowledged 
without  any  dissent  being  expressed,  it  must  be  pre 
sumed  that  his  course  met  the  approbation  of  the 
government.  When  I  assumed  command  in  this 
country  as  civil  governor,  I  was  directed  to  receive 
these  communications  and  instructions  from  Governor 
Mason,  for  my  guidance  in  the  administration  of  the 
civil  affairs  of  this  Territory.  I  have  accordingly 
continued  the  collection  of  the  revenue,  and  added 
the  proceeds  to  the  "  civil  fund,"  using  that  fund  for 
the  necessary  expenses  of  the  civil  government.  The 
expenses  of  employing  civil  officers  in  this  country 
are  very  great ;  and  as  I  have  no  authority  to  lay 
taxes,  this  fund  forms  my  only  means  of  carrying  on 
the  government.  The  necessity  of  employing  these 
officers,  and  of  paying  them  the  full  salaries  authorized 
by  law  under  the  existing  state  of  affairs,  is  too  ol>- 


446  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

vious  to  require  comment.  I  have  pledged  myself  to 
pay  these  salaries  from  the  "civil  fund,"  unless  for 
bidden  to  do  so  by  direct  orders  from  Washington ; 
and  that  pledge  will  be  fulfilled.  This  "  civil  fund" 
was  commenced  in  the  early  part  of  1847,  and  has 
been  formed  and  used  in  the  manner  pointed  out  in 
the  early  instructions  to  the  governor  of  the  Terri 
tory.  This  money  has  been  collected  and  disbursed 
by  the  "  Governor  of  California"  and  by  those  ap 
pointed  by  him  in  virtue  of  his  office.  He  is,  there 
fore,  the  person  responsible  for  this  money,  both  to 
the  government  and  to  the  parties  from  whom  it  is 
collected,  and  it  can  be  expended  only  on  his  orders. 
None  of  the  military  departments  of  the  army,  nor 
any  army  officer  simply  in  virtue  of  his  commission, 
can  have  any  control,  direct  or  indirect,  over  it.  It  is 
true  that  some  of  this  money  has,  from  time  to  time,  as 
the  wants  of  the  service  required,  been  transferred  to 
the  different  military  departments ;  but  this  transfer 
was  in  the  form  of  a  loan,  and  the  money  so  trans 
ferred  will  be  returned  to  the  "  civil  fund"  as  soon  as 
arrangements  can  be  made  for  that  purpose.  The  in 
creased  expenditures  for  the  support  ef  the  existing 
government  will  soon  render  the  restoration  absolutely 
necessary ;  especially  as  the  transfer  of  the  custom 
houses  to  the  regular  collectors  appointed  by  the 
general  government,  will  now  cut  off  all  further  means 
of  supplying  the  civil  treasury.  These  collectors  have 
not  yet  arrived,  but  are  daily  expected. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

BENNET  RILEY, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  Army, 

and  Governor  of  California. 

Major-General  R.  JONES, 

Adjutant-General  of  the  Army,  Washington,!).  0. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  447 

The  following  official  despatch  of  General  Persifor 
F.  Smith,  contains  an  opinion  of  the  position  of  San 
Francisco  totally  different  from  that  of  the  numerous 
California  tourists.  It  is  a  valuable  opinion,  never 
theless,  and  led  to  the  selection  of  the  town  of  Bcnicia, 
on  the  Straits  of  Karquinez,  as  a  military  and  naval 
station. 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION, 
San  Francisco,  April  5,  1849. 

GENERAL  : — Since  my  last  communication  no  troops 
have  arrived  to  change  the  strength  of  the  force  here ; 
but  the  steam  transport  Edith  arrived  on  the  21st  of 
March,  and  reports  that  the  transports  Iowa  and 
Massachusetts,  the  former  having  General  Riley  with 
a  part  of  the  2d  infantry,  and  the  latter  having  the 
command  of  artillery  for  Oregon  on  board,  left  Val 
paraiso  about  the  8th  of  February.  The  former  is 
expected  here  every  day,  and  the  Edith  is  held  in 
readiness  to  convey  the  troops  south  to  the  position 
they  are  to  occupy. 

There  will  be  great  difficulty  in  establishing  and 
maintaining  a  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gila, 
until  more  knowledge  is  acquired  of  the  naviga 
tion  of  the  head  of  the  gulf  of  California  and  the 
lower  part  of  the  Colorado.  Transportation  by  land 
from  San  Diego  is  impossible  for  large  quantities 
of  stores. 

In  the  gulf,  the  winds  blow  in  the  winter  almost 
invariably  from  the  northward ;  and  in  the  summer, 
when  they  come  occasionally  from  southward,  it 
is  in  violent  gales,  with  severe  squalls  and  thun 
der,  rendering  it  very  dangerous  to  be  in  the 
gulf  then.  In  other  words,  it  is  always  difficult  to 


448 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


rim  up  the  gulf,  but  almost  always  easy  to  run  south. 
These  circumstances  render  the  employment  of  steam 
vessels  very  advantageous.  If  the  navigation  of  the 
gulf  permits  the  Edith  to  be  used,  she  will  answer, 
having  both  sails  and  steam.  If  she  draws  too  much 
water,  others,  of  lighter  draught  could  be  procured. 
I  mention  this  now,  as  the  boundary  commission  will 
commence  their  labors  on  this  end  of  the  line,  and 
will  be  on  the  Gila  next  season.  I  should  have  ob 
served  that  the  Colorado  is  supposed  to  be  navigable 
only  for  boats  drawing  three  or  four  feet. 

I  see  no  reason  for  posting  troops  on  any  other 
point  out  of  reach  of  the  ports  on  the  Pacific.  The 
Indians  in  the  interior  do  not  make  it  necessary,  and 
it  would  be  useless  to  place  them  near  the  mines  to 
maintain  order  there.  Nothing  but  the  establishment 
of  a  regular  civil  government,  to  be  carried  on  by 
those  most  interested  in  the  existence  of  good  order, 
will  answer  that  end. 

Such  detachments  as  go  to  the  southern  part  of  the 
Territory  will  accordingly  be  placed,  as  heretofore 
mentioned,  in  healthy  arid  convenient  positions,  and 
those  on  this  bay  at  such  points  as  will  combine  good 
climate,  convenience  of  supply,  and  facility  of  move 
ment.  I  propose,  when  such  a  point  is  found,  to  have 
removed  all  the  public  stores  there,  both  from  this 
place  and  Monterey,  leaving  the  heavy  ordnance  and 
stores. 

The  town  of  San  Francisco  is  no  way  fitted  for 
military  or  commercial  purposes;  there  is  no  harbor, 
a  bad  landing-place,  bad  water,  no  supplies  of  pro 
visions,  an  inclement  climate,  and  it  is  cut  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  country,  except  by  a  long  circuit 
around  the  southern  extremity  of  the  bay.  In  time 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


449 


of  war,  enemies'  troops  could  be  landed  for  many 
miles  south  of  the  entrance  of  the  bay  on  the  sea 
beach,  and  thus  cut  it  off  by  a  short  line  across  the 
peninsula  on  which  it  stands.  There  are  points  on 
the  bay,  more  inland,  having  good  harbors  and  land 
ings,  good  water,  and  open  to  the  whole  country  in 
rear,  and  accessible  without  difficulty  to  ships  of  the 
largest  class.  One  of  these  should  be  the  point  at 
which  the  future  depots  should  be  established ;  and  I 
propose  to  go  to-morrow  in  the  Edith,  in  company  with 
Commodore  Jones  and  other  officers  of  the  army  and 
navy,  to  examine  tbe  straits  of  Karquinez,  said  to 
combine  most  advantages.  I  hope  to  return  and 
report  the  result  of  our  examination  before  the  next 
mail  boat  leaves,  (on  Monday,  9th,)  but  at  any  rate 
by  the  succeeding  boat,  a  few  days  afterwards. 

I  hope  that  in  fixing  the  port  of  entry,  capital,  or 
other  public  places,  the  law  will  leave  to  the  President 
the  selection;  otherwise,  private  interests  already 
involved  in  speculation  here,  will,  by  misrepresenta 
tion,  lead  to  a  very  bad  choice. 

If  Congress  has  not  provided  by  law  for  the  govern 
ment  of  this  Territory,  or  its  admission  as  a  State,  I 
would  be  very  glad  that  the  government  would  official 
ly  promulgate  its  views  as  to  the  civil  authority  now 
exercised  here.  Some  important  questions  of  law, 
involving  both  life  and  property,  are  now  depending ; 
and  judges  and  jurors,  without  experience  in  these 
difficult  questions,  are  called  upon  to  act  under  great 
responsibility. 

It  appears  to  be  the  opinion  of  merchants  in  many 
of  the  ports  of  the  Pacific — and  they  allege  in  sup 
port  of  it  the  advice  of  some  of  our  consuls — that  in 
virtue  of  the  circular  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
38* 


450  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

of  October  30;  as  the  Treasury  Department  could  not 
collect  duties  on  imports  in  California,  their  goods, 
though  dutiable,  could  be  imported  without  paying 
duty.  I  have  held  that  this  was  not  the  construction 
proper  to  be  given  to  the  circular,  but  only  that  the 
law  had  not  provided  the  means  of  collecting  duties 
here,  that  law  being  still  in  force  which  prohibits  cer 
tain  goods  being  introduced  into  the  United  States, 
unless  they  pay  duties  as  prescribed  ;  that  conse 
quently  no  dutiable  goods  can  be  landed  in  California 
unless  they  shall  have  paid  their  duties  elsewhere — the 
effect  of  which  would  be,  that  they  could  not  be  ad 
mitted  at  all  from  foreign  ports. 

Under  the  circumstances,  which  showed  a  very  hard 
case,  I  thought  it  proper  that  the  parties  should  be 
allowed  to  deposit  the  amount  of  duties  and  land  the 
goods ;  but,  lest  this  should  be  construed  as  giving 
them  a  right  for  the  future,  and  as  the  president  may 
think  proper  to  put  an  end  to  this  indulgence,  I  have 
addressed  a  circular  to  all  our  consuls  on  these  seas, 
warning  them  of  this  possibility — a  copy  of  which  is 
inclosed. 

I  was  directed,  when  coming  here,  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  to  do  all  I  could  to  facilitate  the  arrival  of 
the  civil  officers  of  government  in  Oregon,  as  the 
public  service  required  their  presence  there.  The 
steamer  in  which  we  came  here  could  go  no  farther 
north,  and  there  was  no  possible  way  of  those  gentle 
men  getting  there,  except  on  a  small  vessel  about  sail 
ing,  on  which  there  were  no  accommodations. 

Commodore  Jones  kindly  sent  carpenters  from  the 
fleet  to  put  up  some  berths,  and  on  General  Adair's 
(the  collector's)  representation,  that  no  bedding  could 
be  procured,  I  directed  the  quartermaster  to  issue  him 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


451 


the  necessary  number  of  blankets  for  the  voyage,  and 
take  his  receipt  for  them.  I  respectfully  ask  that 
this  may  be  approved,  and  the  amount  charged  to 
General  Adair.  The  quartermaster  could  not  tell  him 
the  price  of  the  blankets  when  he  took  them. 

As  the  rainy  season  has  ended,  people  are  again 
repairing  to  the  mines.  New  discoveries  farther 
south  are  said  to  have  been  made ;  and  it  is  now 
pretty  certain  that  the  whole  slope  of  the  Sierra  Ne 
vada,  comprised  within  the  head  waters  of  the  San 
Joaquin  to  the  south  and  those  of  the  Sacramento  to 
the  north,  contains  gold.  These  two  rivers,  forming, 
as  it  were,  a  bracket,  join  to  enter  the  bay  of  San 
Francisco ;  and  their  tributaries  from  the  east,  in 
their  beds,  expose  the  deposits  of  gold  as  they  descend 
from  the  mountains.  It  is  on  the  banks  and  branches 
of  these  streams  that  adventurers  are  now  at  work  ; 
but  some  excavations  elsewhere,  to  a  depth  equal  to 
that  worn  by  the  creeks,  have  disclosed  quantities  simi 
lar  to  those  most  generally  found.  There  appears  to 
be  a  line  parallel  to  the  summit  of  the  main  ridge, 
and  some  distance  down  the  slope,  at  which  the  pro 
duct  of  gold  is  at  its  maximum ;  but  whether  this  be 
from  the  quantity  deposited,  or  from  the  different 
position, as  relates  to  the  surface,  or  from  the  diffi 
culty  of  working  it,  I  have  not  the  means  of  knowing. 

The  gold  is  found  in  small  particles :  the  largest  I  have 
seen,  but  such  are  rare,  weighs  seventy-one  ounces  troy. 
The  appearance  invariably  is  as  though  it  had  been 
spurted  up  when  melted  through  crevices  and  fissures 
in  drops,  which  have  often  the  form  of  the  leaves  and 
gravel  on  which  they  have  fallen.  I  speak  of  this 
as  an  appearance,  not  as  a  theory  or  hypothesis.  The 
extent  ascertained  within  which  gold  is  thus  found  is 


452  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

at  least  four  hundred  miles  long  by  forty  wide ;  in  al 
most  every  part  of  which,  where  the  surface  is  de 
pressed  by  the  beds  of  rivers,  gold  has  been  obtained 
without  digging  more  than  ten  feet  below  the  surface, 
and  very  seldom  that  much. 

It  is  impossible  to  furnish  any  grounds  for  estima 
ting  the  number  of  people  engaged  in  mining,  or  the 
amount  they  have  produced.  Persons  engaged  in 
trading  with  the  miners  say  they  amount  to  about  ten 
thousand,  but  I  cannot  say  with  what  reason.  They 
can  better  judge  of  the  amount  produced,  wThich  the 
lowest  estimate  places  at  $4,000,000.  More  than 
three  thousand  persons  have  been  added  to  the  miners 
up  to  this  time, — chiefly  from  Mexico  and  South 
America. 

When  the  mines  were  first  discovered,  all  the  ports 
of  South  America  on  the  Pacific,  and  of  the  Sand 
wich  islands,  sent  the  merchandise  collected  and  stored 
there  to  be  sold  here.  They  realized  enormous  profits, 
before  any  competition  from  our  eastern  States  could 
meet  them ;  and  these  goods  were  generally  owned  by 
European  houses,  who  thus  became  possessed  of  the 
first  fruits  of  the  mines,  which  were  shipped  to  Eu 
rope  on  their  account;  and  it  is  thus  that  so  little 
gold  has  reached  the  United  States. 

When  the  merchandise  now  on  its  way  from  our  At 
lantic  States  arrives,  and  is  sold,  the  current  will  set 
that  way  ;  but  the  profits  will  be  much  diminished  by 
competition,  and  still  more  by  the  enormous  expenses 
here  for  labor,  storage,  &c.  These  are  almost  incredi 
ble  ;  the  ordinary  wages  for  the  poorest  laborer  is  $6 
per  day ;  many  receive  $10. 

The  extent  and  richness  of  the  gold  region  have 
not  been  exaggerated ;  and  the  exorbitant  prices  paid 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


453 


for  labor,  rent,  and  subsistence,  have  hardly  been 
fully  set  forth.  But  all  the  estimates  of  the  amount 
actually  produced  are  but  mere  suppositions,  which 
may  surpass  or  may  fall  short  of  the  truth. 

I  have  already  directed  that  the  men  to  whom  their 
commanding  officers  may  give  short  leaves  of  absence 
may  be  employed  by  the  quartermasters  at  the  usual 
rates  here.  This  will  be  an  encouragement  to  the 
men  and  an  advantage  to  the  public  service,  as  labor 
is  hard  to  get.  But  I  doubt  the  propriety  of  yielding 
to  the  current  of  gold-seeking,  and  allowing  large 
bodies  of  the  men  to  go  to  the  mines.  It  may  be 
permitted  to  reward  good  conduct,  as  any  other  indul 
gence  is;  but  to  make  it  general,  would  be  either  to 
acknowledge  the  right  of  the  men  to  modify  their 
obligations  as  they  please,  or  to  confess  our  inability 
to  enforce  their  fulfilment.  For  the  sake  of  principle 
and  preciseness,  it  would  be  better  to  adhere  to  what 
is  right  now,  though  the  effect  here  in  this  particular 
instance  would  be  the  desertion  of  the  men. 
I  am,  with  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

PERSIFOR  F.  SMITH, 

Brevet  Major- General,  commanding  3d  Division, 

Brigadier-General  R.  JONES, 
Adjutant-  General* 


31 


464  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

APPENDIX  F. 

/ 

The  following  despatch  contains  instructions  to  Gen 
eral  Kearny  concerning  the  conquest  of  California, 
contained  in  a  despatch  from  the  Secretary  of  War, 
marked  confidential.  But  a  portion  of  these  instruc 
tions  were  carried  out,  in  consequence  of  the  antici 
pation  of  the  conquest  by  Commodore  Stockton  and 
Colonel  Fremont. 

[Confidential] 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  June  3,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  of  my  letter  to 
the  governor  of  Missouri  for  an  additional  force  of 
one  thousand  mounted  men. 

The  object  of  thus  adding  to  the  force  under  your 
command  is  not,  as  you  will  perceive,  fully  set  forth 
in  that  letter,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  deemed  prudent 
that  it  should  not,  at  this  time,  become  a  matter  of 
public  notoriety;  but  to  you  it  is  proper  and  neces 
sary  that  it  should  be  stated. 

It  has  been  decided  by  the  President  to  be  of  the 
greatest  importance  in  the  pending  war  with  Mexico 
to  ^take  the  earliest  possession  of  Upper  California. 
An  expedition  with  that  view  is  hereby  ordered,  and 
you  are  designated  to  command  it.  To  enable  you  to 
be  in  sufficient  force  to  conduct  it  successfully,  this 
additional  force  of  a  thousand  mounted  men  has  been 
provided,  to  follow  you  in  the  direction  of  Santa  Fe, 
to  be  under  your  orders  or  the  officer  you  may  leave 
in  command  at  Santa  Fe. 

It  cannot  be  determined  how  far  this  additional 
force  will  be  behind  that  designed  for  the  Santa  Fe 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


455 


expedition,  but  it  will  not  probably  be  more  than  a 
few  weeks.  When  you  arrive  at  Santa  Fe  with  the 
force  already  called,  and  shall  have  taken  possession: 
of  it,  you  may  find  yourselves  in  a  condition  to  garri 
son  it  with  a  small  part  of  your  command  (as  the 
additional  force  will  soon  be  at  that  place),  and  with 
the  remainder  press  forward  to  California.  In  that 
case  you  will  make  such  arrangements  as  to  being 
followed  by  the  reinforcement  before  mentioned,  as  in 
your  judgment  may  be  deemed  safe  and  prudent.  I 
need  not  say  to  you  that  in  case  you  conquer  Santa 
Fe,  (and  with  it  will  be  included  the  department  or 
state  of  New  Mexico),  it  will  be  important  to  provide 
for  retaining  safe  possession  of  it.  Should  you  deem 
it  prudent  to  have  still  more  troops  for  the  accom 
plishment  of  the  objects  herein  designated,  you  will 
lose  no  time  in  communicating  your  opinion  on  that 
point,  and  all  others  connected  with  the  enterprise,  to 
this  department.  Indeed,  you  are  hereby  authorized 
to  make  a  direct  requisition  for  it  upon  the  governor 
of  Missouri. 

It  is  known  that  a  large  body  of  Mormon  emigrants 
are  en  route  to  California  for  the  purpose  of  settling 
in  that  country.  You  are  desired  to  use  all  proper 
means  to  have  a  good  understanding  with  them,  to 
the  end  that  the  United  States  may  have  their  co 
operation  in  taking  possession  of  and  holding  that 
country.  It  has  been  suggested  here  that  many  of 
these  Mormons  would  willingly  enter  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  aid  us  in  our  expedition 
against  California.  You  are  hereby  authorized  to 
muster  into  service  such  as  can  be  induced  to  volun 
teer  ;  not,  however,  to  a  number  exceeding  one-third 
of  your  entire  force.  Should  they  enter  the  service 


456  HISTOKY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

they  will  be  paid  as  other  volunteers,  and  you  can  allow 
them  to  designate,  so  far  as  it  can  be  properly  done, 
the  persons  to  act  as  officers  thereof.  It  is  under 
stood  that  a  considerable  number  of  American  citizens 
are  now  settled  on  the  Sacramento  River,  near  Suiter's 
establishment,  called  "  Nueva  Helvetia,"  who  are 
well  disposed  towards  the  United  States.  Should 
you,  on  your  arrival  in  the  country,  find  this  to  be 
the  true  state  of  things  there,  you  are  authorized  to 
organize  and  receive  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  such  portion  of  these  citizens  as  you  may  think 
useful  to  aid  you  to  hold  the  possession  of  the  coun 
try.  You  will  in  that  case  allow  them,  so  far  as 
you  shall  judge  proper,  to  select  their  own  offi 
cers.  A  large  discretionary  power  is  invested  in 
you  in  regard  to  these  matters,  as  well  as  to  all 
others,  in  relation  to  the  expeditions  confided  to  your 
command. 

The  choice  of  routes  by  which  you  will  enter  Cali 
fornia  will  be  left  to  your  better  knowledge  and 
ampler  means  of  getting  accurate  information.  We 
are  assured  that  a  southern  route  (called  the  caravan 
route,  by  which  the  wild  horses  are  brought  from  that 
country  into  New  Mexico)  is  practicable,  and  it  is 
suggested  as  not  improbable  that  it  can  be  passed 
over  in  the  winter  months,  or  at  least  late  in  autumn. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  information  may  prove  to  be 
correct. 

In  regard  to  the  routes,  the  practicability  of  pro 
curing  needful  supplies  for  men  and  animals,  and 
transporting  baggage,  is  a  point  to  be  well  considered. 
Should  the  President  be  disappointed  in  his  cherished 
hope  that  you  will  be  able  to  reach  the  interior  of 
Upper  California  before  winter,  you  are  then  desired 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  457 

to  make  the  best  arrangement  you  can  for  sustaining 
your  forces  during  the  winter,  and  for  an  early  move 
ment  in  the  spring.  Though  it  is  very  desirable  that 
the  expedition  should  reach  California  this  season, 
(and  the  President  does  not  doubt  you  will  make 
every  possible  effort  to  accomplish  this  object),  yet 
if,  in  your  judgment,  it  cannot  be  undertaken  with 
a  reasonable  prospect  of  success,  you  will  defer 
it,  as  above  suggested,  until  spring.  You  are  left 
unembarrassed  by  any  specific  directions  in  this 
matter. 

It  is  expected  that  the  naval  forces  of  the  United 
States  which  are  now,  or  will  soon  be  in  the  Pacific, 
will  be  in  possession  of  all  the  towns  on  the  seacoast, 
and  will  co-operate  with  you  in  the  conquest  of  Cali 
fornia.  Arms,  ordnance,  munitions  of  war,  and  pro 
visions  to  be  used  in  that  country,  will  be  sent  by 
sea  to  our  squadron  in  the  Pacific  for  the  use  of  the 
land  forces. 

Should  you  conquer  and  take  possession  of  New 
Mexico  and  Upper  California,  or  considerable  places 
in  either,  you  will  establish  temporary  civil  govern 
ments  therein — abolishing  all  arbitrary  restrictions 
that  may  exist,  so  far  as  it  may  be  done  with  safety. 
In  performing  this  duty,  it  would  be  wise  and  prudent 
to  continue  in  their  employment  all  such  of  the  exist 
ing  officers  as  are  known  to  be  friendly  to  the  United 
States,  and  will  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  them. 
The  duties  at  the  custom-house  ought  at  once  to  be 
reduced  to  such  a  rate  as  may  be  barely  sufficient  to 
maintain  the  necessary  officers,  without  yielding  any 
revenue  to  the  government.  You  may  assure  the 
people  of  those  provinces,  that  it  is  the  wish  and  de 
sign  of  the  United  States  to  provide  for  them  a  free 
39 


458  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

government  with  the  least  possible  delay,  similar  to 
that  which  exists  in  our  territories.  They  will  then 
be  called  on  to  exercise  the  rights  of  freemen  in 
electing  their  own  representatives  to  the  territorial 
legislature.  It  is  foreseen  that  what  relates  to  the 
civil  government  will  be  a  difficult  and  unpleasant 
part  of  your  duty,  and  much  must  necessarily  be  left 
to  your  own  discretion.  In  your  whole  conduct  you 
will  act  in  such  a  manner  as  best  to  conciliate  the  in 
habitants  and  render  them  friendly  to  the  United 
States. 

It  is  desirable  that  the  usual  trade  between  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  and  the  Mexican  pro 
vinces  should  be  continued,  as  far  as  practicable, 
under  the  changed  condition  of  things  between  the 
two  countries.  In  consequence  of  extending  your 
expedition  into  California,  it  may  be  proper  that  you 
should  increase  your  supply  for  goods  to  be  distributed 
as  presents  to  the  Indians.  The  United  States  super 
intendent  of  Indian  affairs  at  St.  Louis  will,  aid  you 
in  procuring  these  goods.  You  will  be  furnished  with 
a  proclamation  in  the  Spanish  language,  to  be  issued 
by  you  and  circulated  among  the  Mexican  people  on 
your  entering  into  or  approaching  their  country. 
You  will  use  your  utmost  endeavors  to  have  the 
pledges  and  promises  therein  contained  carried  out  to 
the  utmost  extent. 

I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  say  that  the  rank 
of  brevet  brigadier-general  will  be  conferred  on  you 
as  soon  as  you  commence  your  movement  towards 
California,  and  sent  round  to  you  by  sea  or  over  the 
country,  or  to  the  care  of  the  commandant  of  our 
squadron  in  the  Pacific.  In  that  way  cannon,  arms, 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA.  459 

ammunition,  and  supplies  for  the  land  forces  will  be 
sent  to  you. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
W.  L.  MARCY, 
Secretary  of  War. 
Colonel  S.  W.  KEARNY. 

Fort  Leavenworthy  Missouri. 


APPENDIX  G. 

The  particulars  of  the  conquest  of  tipper  Cali 
fornia,  as  well  as  the  suppression  of  the  insurrections, 
we  have  already  given  in  substance  as  they  are  in  the 
despatches  of  General  Kearny  and  Commodore  Stock 
ton.  But  we  have  said  nothing  of  the  transactions 
in  the  Peninsula,  as  that  afterwards  was  surrendered 
to  Mexico.  All  that  is  interesting  in  the  conquest  of 
Lower  California,  will  be  found  in  the  following 
despatches  from  the  commander  of  the  New  York 
regiment  of  volunteers,  which  with  a  number  of 
marines  were  the  only  troops  employed  in  that  quar 
ter.  We  premise,  that,  after  the  United  States 
marines  had  taken  San  Jose',  the  natives  rose,  and 
they  were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  taking  refuge 
in  an  old  fort,  or  cuartel,  in  the  town. 

BARRACKS,  LOWER  CALIFORNIA, 

San  Jose,  February  20,  1848. 
SIR:  I  continue  my  report  from  the  22d  ultimo, 
from  which  time  my  force  consisted  of  twenty-seven 
marines  and  fifteen  seamen,  of  whom  five  were  on  the 
sick  report,  besides  some  twenty  volunteers,  Califor- 
nians,  who  at  least  served  to  swell  the  numbers.  From 


460  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

that  date  the  enemy  were  continually  in  sight  of  us, 
intercepting  all  communication  with  the  interior,  and 
driving  off  all  the  cattle  from  the  neighborhood.  A 
party  of  our  men  who  went  out  to  endeavor  to  obtain 
cattle,  were  driven  in  and  narrowly  escaped  being  cut 
off.  We  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  few  cows,  however, 
which  were  very  necessary  to  us  in  the  reduced  state 
of  our  provisions,  as,  in  addition  to  our  garrison,  we 
were  obliged,  in  humanity,  to  sustain  some  fifty  women 
and  children  of  the  poor,  who  sought  our  protection 
in  the  greatest  distress.  I  found  it  necessary,  as 
soon  as  our  fresh  be-ef  was  consumed,  to  put  all  hands 
on  half  allowance  of  salt  provisions.  We  had  no 
bread.  On  the  4th  of  February,  the  enemy  closed 
around  us  more,  and  commenced  firing  upon  all  who 
showed  themselves  at  our  port-holes,  or  above  the 
parapets.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  enemy  ap 
peared  to  be  a  little  scattered,  a  considerable  force 
being  seen  riding  about  some  distance  from  the  town, 
and  at  the  same  time  a  strong  party  of  them  posted 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  street  were  keeping  up  an 
annoying  fire  upon  us.  I  judged  this  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  make  a  sortie  upon  them,  and  taking 
twenty-five  men  with  me,  closed  with  them  and  dis 
lodged  them,  driving  them  into  the  hills  without  the 
loss  of  a  man  on  our  part,  and  returned  to  the  cuartel. 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th  it  was  reported  to  me  that 
the  enemy  had  broken  into  the  houses  on  the  main 
street,  and  there  was  some  property  exposed  which 
might  be  secured.  I  took  a  party  of  men  and  went 
down  and  brought  up  a  number  of  articles  belonging 
to  the  Californians,  who  were  in  the  cuartel ;  some 
distant  firing  took  place,  but  no  injury  was  sustained. 
On  the  same  day,  hearing  there  were  some  stores  of 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  461 

rice  and  tobacco  in  a  house  some  three  hundred  yards 
down  the  main  street,  I  determined  upon  an  effort  to 
obtain  them,  and  sallied  out  with  thirty  men :  these 
were  immediately  fired  upon  from  several  different 
quarters,  and  some  fighting  ensued,  resulting  in  the 
death  of  one  of  my  volunteers — --shot  through  the 
heart.  We  charged  down  the  end  of  the  street,  and 
drove  the  enemy  to  the  cover  of  a  cornfield  at  the 
outside  of  the  town,  where  they  were  considerably 
reinforced,  and  recommenced  a  hot  fire ;  but  we  were 
enabled  to  save  a  part  of  the  articles  which  we  were 
in  search  of,  though  we  found  that  the  enemy  had  an 
ticipated  us  in  this  object,  having  forced  the  building 
from  the  rear.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  following 
day,  Ritchie's  schooner,  having  provisions  for  us  from 
La  Paz,  came  in  sight  and  anchored,  but  a  canoe 
which  was  enticed  toward  the  shore  by  a  white  fiag 
displayed  by  the  enemy,  was  fired  upon,  and  the 
schooner  immediately  got  under  way. 

On  the  10th  the  enemy  had  entire  possession  of  the 
town :  they  had  perforated  with  port-holes  all  the  ad 
jacent  houses  and  walls,  occupying  the  church,  and, 
hoisting  their  flag  on  Galindo's  house,  ninety  yards  dis 
tant,  held  a  high  and  commanding  position,  which  ex 
posed  our  back  yard  and  the  kitchen  to  a  raking  fire, 
which  from  this  time  forth  was  almost  incessant  from 
all  quarters  upon  us,  the  least  exposure  of  person  creat 
ing  a  target  for  fifty  simultaneous  shots.  The  enemy 
appeared  to  have  some  excellent  rifles,  among  other 
arms ;  and  some  of  them  proved  themselves  tolerably 
sharp  shooters,  sending  their  balls  continually  through 
our  port-holes.  On  the  llth  the  fire  was  warm,  but 
on  our  .part  it  was  rarely  that  we  could  get  a  sight  of 
them.  In  the  afternoon  of  this  day  we  had  to  lament 
39* 


462  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

the  death  of  Passed  Midshipman  McLanahan,  attached 
to  the  United  States  ship  Gyane  ;  a  ball  striking  him 
in  the  right  side  of  the  neck,  a  little  below  the  thyroid 
cartilage,  lodged  in  the  left  shoulder.  He  died  in 
about  two  hours.  He  was  a  young  officer  of  great 
promise,  energetic,  of  much  forethought  for  his  age, 
and  brave  to  temerity.  All  lamented  his  untimely 
fate,  and  all  bear  willing  testimony  to  his  worth. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  at  daylight,  we  dis 
covered  that  the  enemy  had  thrown  up  a  breastwork 
upon  the  sand,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to 
the  north-east  of  the  cuartel,  and  entirely  command 
ing  our  watering  place.  We  fired  several  round  shot 
at  it,  with  little  effect.  We  succeeded  in  getting  in 
being  in  strong  force,  and  kept  a  close  watch  upon  us. 
Their  force  was  over  three  hundred,  speaking  within 
bounds.  I  immediately  commenced  digging  a  well  in 
the  rear  of  Mott's  house,  which  is  the  lowest  ground. 
I  found  that  we  had  to  go  through  rock,  and  judged 
we  should  have  to  dig  about  twenty  feet.  I  thought 
it  imprudent  to  blast,  as  the  enemy,  suspecting  our 
intention,  would  throw  every  obstacle  in  our  way.  The 
men  worked  cheerfully  on  this  and  the  succeeding 
day  against  all  difficulties.  Our  situation  was  becom- 

•/       o 

ing  now  an  imminently  critical  one,  having  with  the 
greatest  economy  but  four  days'  water.  On  the  14th 
we  continued  digging  for  water.  We  found  that  the 
enemy  had  thrown  up  a  second  breastwork  more  to 
the  westward,  giving  them  a  cross-fire  upon  our  water 
ing  place :  there  was  a  continual  fire  kept  up  upon  the 
cuartel  during  the  day.  At  three  o'clock,  30  minutes 
P.  M.,  a  sail  was  reported  in  sight,  which  proved  to  be 
the  United  Ship  Cyane.  She  anchored  after  sun- 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


463 


down.  It  was  of  course  a  joyful  sight  to  us  to  see 
friends  so  near;  but  I  was  apprehensive  that  they 
•could  render  us  but  little  assistance,  the  enemy  being 
so  vastly  superior  in  numbers.  The  enemy  continued 
their  firing  upon  us  during  the  night.  On  the  15th  at 
day-light,  we  became  aware  that  the  Cyane  was  landing 
men.  They  soon  commenced  their  advance,  which  for 
a  few  moments  was  opposed  only  by  a  scattering  fire ; 
then  the  enemy  opened  upon  them  in  earnest.  They 
had  concentrated  nearly  their  entire  force  near  San 
Vincente.  We  saw  the  flash  of  musketry  through  all 
the  hills  above  the  village.  There  was  the  odds  of 
three  to  one  against  our  friends.  Steadily  they  came 
on,  giving  back  the  enemy's  fire  as  they  advanced. 
There  was  still  a  party  of  the  enemy  occupying  the 
town,  firing  upon  us.  I  took  thirty  men,  and  sallied 
out  upon  them,  drove  them  from  cover,  killed  one 
and  wounded  several  of  them,  and  marched  out  to 
join  the  Cyane's  men,  who,  with  Captain  Dupont  at 
their  head,  had  now  drawn  quite  near  to  us.  There 
were  small  detached  parties  of  the  enemy  still  hover 
ing  about  them,  and  firing  at  them,  but  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  had  been  broken,  and  retired  to  "  Las 
Animas,"  distant  two  miles.  The  march  of  the 
Cyane's  men  to  our  relief,  through  an  enemy  so  vastly 
their  superior  in  numbers,  well  mounted  and  possess 
ing  every  advantage  in  knowledge  of  the  ground,  was 
certainly  an  intrepid  exploit,  as  creditably  performed 
as  it  was  skilfully  and  boldly  planned,  and  reflects 
the  greatest  honor  on  all  concerned.  It  resulted  most 
fortunately  for  us  in  our  harassed  situation.  They 
had  but  four  wounded;  this  cannot  be  termed  any 
thing  but  the  most  remarkably  good  luck,  considering 
the  severe  fire  that  this  heroic  little  band  were  ex- 


464  HISTORY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

posed  to.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  we  have  not  posi 
tively  ascertained:  we  hear  of  thirteen  killed,  with 
certainty,  and  general  report  says  thirty-five  ; 
wounded  not  known.  Of  the  total  loss  of  the  enemy 
in  their  attack  upon  the  cuartel,  I  cannot  speak  with 
certainty;  we  have  found  several  graves,  and  know 
of  a  number  wounded,  one  of  whom  we  have  in  the 
cuartel  a  prisoner.  I  suppose  their  total  loss  to  be 
not  far  from  fifteen  killed,  and  many  wounded ;  I  am 
sure  it  could  not  be  les$  than  this.  Our  own  total 
loss  was  three  killed  and  four  slightly  wounded.  After 
the  death  of  Passed  Midshipman  McLanahan,  there 
remained  but  one  officer  to  my  assistance,  Passed 
Midshipman  George  A.  Stevens,  to  whom,  for  his 
coolness  and  indefatigable  zeal  at  a  time  when  so 
much  devolved  upon  him,  I  am  most  happy  to  accord 
the  highest  credit;  and  at  the  same  time  I  must 
honorably  mention  the  conduct  of  a  volunteer,  Eu 
gene  Gillespie,  Esq.,  who,  although  suffering  from  ill 
ness,  never  deserted  his  post,  and  was  with  me  in  the 
sortie  of  the  7th.  The  non-commissioned  officers  and 
men  went  through  privation,  unceasing  watchfulness, 
and  danger,  without  a  murmur.  I  cannot  express  too 
highly  my  satisfaction  in  their  conduct.  Captain 
Dupont  immediately  upon  his  arrival  here,  becoming 
aware  of  our  situation  as  regards  provisions,  took  mea 
sures  for  our  supply.  The  day  after  the  battle  of  San 
Vincente  he  despatched  a  train,  which  brought  us  by 
hand  (the  enemy  having  driven  off  all  the  mules  and 
horses)  a  quantity  of  stores  and  articles  of  which  we 
stood  most  in  need,  among  the  rest,  bread,  and  has  since 
been  unceasing  in  his  exertions  for  our  relief.  I  cannot 
too  earnestly  express  the  obligations  which  we  are  under 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


465 


for  the  prompt  and  efficient  assistance  which  Captain 
Dupont,  his  officers,  and  crew  have  rendered  us. 
I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHAS.  HEYWOOD. 
Lieutenant  U.  S.  Navy,  conig.,  San  Jose. 
Lieut.  Col.  HENRY  S.  BURTON, 
U.  S.  Army,  comg.  troops  in  Lower  California. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
First  Lieutenant  Sd  Artillery,  A.  A.  A.  General. 


H. 


UNITED  STATES  BARRACKS, 
La  Paz,  California,  April  13, 1848. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  March  1,  1848,  and  to  report  the 
arrival  of  the  army  storeship  "  Isabella"  at  this  place 
on  the  22d  of  March,  1848,  with  Captain  Naglee's 
company  (D)  New  York  volunteers,  and  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  recruits  for  the  detachment  of  New  York 
volunteers  stationed  at  this  place. 

The  rescue  of  the  prisoners  of  war  on  the  15th  ultimo 
caused  great  excitement  among  the  enemy,  and  tended 
very  much  to  disorganize  their  forces,  and  the  import 
ant  arrival  of  the-  reinforcements  to  my  command 
determined  me  to  take  the  field  as  soon  as  possible ; 
accordingly,  I  left  this  place  on  the  morning  of  the 
26th  instant  with  two  hundred  and  seventeen  officers 
and  men;  Lieutenant  Halleck,  United  States  en 
gineers,  acting  chief  of  staff,  and  Passed  Midshipman 
Duncan,  United  States  navy,  temporarily  attached  to 
the  mounted  portion  of  Captain  Naglee's  command. 


466  HISTOEY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

The  afternoon  of  the  27th,  a  party  of  fifteen  men 
captured,  in  San  Antonio,  Pineda,  the  commander  of 
the  Mexican  forces,  with  his  secretary,  Serrano. 

The  morning  of  the  29th,  having  received  informa 
tion  that  the  enemy  had  concentrated  their  forces  in 
Todos  Santos,  we  pressed  on  with  all  speed,  fearing 
they  might  evade  us,  by  retreating  towards  Magdalena 
Bay.  The  morning  of  the  30th,  about  ten  o'clock, 
having  received  accurate  information  respecting  the 
e*hemy,  Captain  Naglee  with  forty-five  mounted  men 
was  despatched  to  intercept  the  road  leading  from 
Todos  Santos  to  Magdalena  Bay,  and,  if  practicable, 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear  at  the  same  time  our 
main  body  made  its  attack  in  front. 

The  road  leading  from  Todos  Santos  to  La  Paz,  for 
some  distance  before  reaching  the  first  named  place, 
passes  through  a  dense  growth  of  chaparral,  (very 
favorable  for  an  ambush),  and  in  this  the  enemy  made 
their  arrangements  to  receive  us.  We  left  the  road 
about  five  miles  from  Todos  Santos  and  marched  along 
a  ridge  of  high  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
having  full  view  of  the  enemy's  operations. 

They  then  took  possession  of  a  commanding  hill 
directly  in  our  route,  between  three  and  four  miles 
from  Todos  Santos,  with  their  Indians  in  front.  Com 
panies  A  and  B,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
Halleck,  were  deployed  as  skirmishers  in  such  a  man 
ner  as  to  expose  the  enemy  to  a  cross-fire.  The  enemy 
opened  their  fire  at  long  distance,  but  our  force  ad 
vanced  steadily,  reserving  their  fire  until  within  good 
musket  range,  when  it  was  delivered  with  great  effect, 
and  the  enemy  retreated  very  rapidly,  after  a  short 
but  sharp  engagement.  At  this  time,  Captain  Naglee 
being  near  Todos  Santos,  and  hearing  the  firing, 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


46T 


attacked  the  enemy  in  rear,  and  after  a  severe  action 
completed  their  dispersion.  Our  men  and  horses  being 
too  much  fatigued  by  their  long  march  to  pursue 
the  scattered  enemy,  we  marched  on  to  Todos  San 
tos. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  this  engagement  cannot 
be  ascertained  with  any  accuracy ;  we  know  of  ten 
killed  and  eight  wounded.  Our  loss  was  nothing  ;  one 
man  and  the  horse  of  Acting  Lieutenant  Scott  were 
slightly  wounded,  the  enemy,  as  usual,  firing  too  high. 

Our  officers  and  men  fully  sustained  the  character 
they  won  on  the  16th  and  27th  of  November  last. 

My  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  Lieutenant  Halleck, 
for  his  assistance  as  chief  of  staff,  and  I  present  him 
particularly  to  the  notice  of  the  colonel  commanding, 
for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  led  on  the  attack  on 
the  30th  ultimo. 

Captain  Naglee  also  deserves  particular  notice  for 
the  energetic  and  successful  manner  in  which  he  ful 
filled  his  instructions. 

On  the  31st  ultimo,  Captain  Naglee,  with  fifty 
mounted  men  of  his  company,  was  ordered  to  pursue 
the  enemy  in  the  direction  of  Magdalena  Bay.  He 
returned  to  La  Paz  on  the  12th  instant,  having  pur 
sued  the  enemy  very  closely,  capturing  five  prisoners 
and  some  arms. 

Lieutenant  Halleck  started  for  San  Jose'  with  a 
party  of  mounted  men,  consisting  of  one  officer  and 
twenty-five  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  on 
the  5th  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating 
with  Captain  Dupont,  commanding  United  States 
sloop-of-war  Cyane.  He  returned  here  on  the  llth 
instant,  having  captured  ten  prisoners  on  his  march, 
and  taken  a  number  of  arms. 


468  HISTOEY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

From  him  I  learn  that  the  naval  force  at  San  Jose* 
have  thirty  odd  prisoners,  and  among  others  "  Mau- 
ricio  Castro,"  the  self-styled  political  chief  of  Lower 
California.  Lieutenant  Selden,  with  a  party  from  the 
Cyane,  made  a  most  opportune  march  on  Santiago, 
where  he  captured  a  number  of  the  enemy  who  had 
fled  from  the  field  of  Todos  Santos.  Castro,  who 
commanded  the  enemy's  forces  in  the  action  of  the 
30th,  was  arrested  near  Maria  Flores  by  the  civil 
authorities  and  delivered  up  to  Lieutenant  Selden. 

During  the  stay  of  our  main  body  at  Todos  Santos 
fourteen  prisoners  were  captured;  among  them  two 
eons  of  the  reverend  padre  Gabriel  Gonzales,  officers 
of  the  Mexican  forces. 

We  left  Todos  Santos  on  the  5th  instant,  and  arrived 
at  this  place  on  the  7th.  The  result  of  this  short 
campaign  has  been  the  complete  defeat  and  dispersion 
of  the  enemy's  forces. 

We  have  captured  their  chief  and  six  officers,  and 
one  hundred  and  three  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates ;  and  others  are  daily  presenting  themselves 
to  the  civil  authorities  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

The  captured  arms  have  been  given  to  those  ran- 
cheros  known  to  be  friendly  to  the  interests  of  the 
United  States,  for  their  protection. 

I  am,  sir,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

HENRY  S.  BURTON, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  New  York  Volunteers. 

Lieutenant  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Act.  Ass.  Adjt.  Gen.  Tenth  Mil  Dep. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
First  Lieut.  3d  Artillery  A.  A.  A.  G-eneral. 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


469 


APPENDIX  I. 

The  following  despatch  from  Governor  Mason,  gives 
an  account  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  Upper  California, 
in  October,  1847 : 

HEADQUARTERS  TENTH  MILITARY  DEPARTMENT, 
Monterey,  California,  October  7,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  returned  from  San  Francisco  yesterday,  and 
found  here  Mr.  Toler,  with  despatches  from  Washing 
ton,  the  receipt  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  acknow 
ledge.  I  am  also  informed  by  Commodore  Shubrick 
that  the  sloop-of-war  Preble  is  ready  to  sail  for 
Panama,  with  Passed  Midshipman  Wilson  as  bearer 
of  despatches  for  the  United  States.  I  therefore  avail 
myself  of  the  opportunity  to  send  you  my  letter  of 
the  18th  of  September,  with  its  several  packages,  and 
now  have  to  communicate  the  result  of  my  visit  to 
San  Francisco. 

I  found  the  town  flourishing  and  prosperous,  with  a 
busy,  industrious  population  of  Americans,  and  refer 
you  to  the  copies  of  my  military  correspondence  for  the 
steps  adopted  to  give  them  a  good  town  government. 
The  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  you  are  well  aware,  is  a 
spacious,  elegant  harbor,  susceptible  of  the  most  per 
fect  defence ;  but  as  yet  nothing  has  been  done 
towards  fortifying  it,  or  even  placing  any  of  the  heavy 
guns  in  position  at  the  old  fort.  It  is  found  almost 
impossible  to  get  much  work  out  of  the  volunteers ; 
and  all  that  I  can  now  expect  of  the  two  companies 
of  Major  Hardie's  command  will  be  to  improve  their 
quarters  at  the  old  presidio.  This  they  are  at  present 
engaged  upon,  using  lumber  made  at  the  horse  saw 
mill,  under  direction  of  the  assistant  quartermaster, 
40 


32 


470  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Captain  Folsom.  All  this  labor  is  done  by  the  volun 
teers,  so  that  the  improvements  will  be  macle  at  very 
little  expense  to  the  government.  The  price  of  lum 
ber  at  San  Francisco  is  $50  per  M. ;  but  Captain 
Folsom  says  that  he  has  it  sawed  and  delivered,  by 
the  labor  of  the  volunteers  and  his  own  machinery,  at 
about  $16.  The  mill  is  placed  in  the  timber  known  as 
the  Red  Woods,  near  the  mission  of  San  Rafael,  on 
the  west  and  north  sides  of  the  bay,  where  any  amount 
can  be  had.  If  the  government  design  to  erect  per 
manent  structures  to  any  extent  in  this  country,  it 
would  be  advisable  to  send  out  a  steam  engine,  with 
all  the  necessary  frames  and  iron-work  to  adapt  it  to 
immediate  use  in  connexion  with  the  saw  and  grist 
mills  now  in  possession  of  the  quartermaster's  depart 
ment  here.  The  site  at  present  selected  by  Captain 
Folsom  is  well  adapted,  as  easy  water  communication 
is  had  with  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  Rivers  as 
well  as  the  parts  of  the  country  south  of  San  Francisco. 

At  San  Francisco  I  found  all  the  powder,  arms, 
accoutrements,  and  perishable  ordnance  property  well 
stored  in  a  building  prepared  for  the  purpose  at  the 
presidio  barracks ;  but  the  guns,  mortars,  carriages, 
shot,  and  shells  are  in  the  town  in  the  open  air,  pro 
tected  by  paint  alone.  The  great  difficulty  of  hauling 
such  articles  over  the  rugged  hills  between  the  town 
and  presidio  will  prevent  their  being  hauled  to  the 
latter  place  this  season. 

I  did  design  to  continue  my  tour  of  inspection  to 
Sonoma  and  the  Sacramento  River,  but  was  recalled 
by  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  the  bearer  of  despatches 
at  Monterey. 

When  on  my  way  up  to  San  Francisco,  I  was  over 
taken  by  Captain  Brown,  of  the  Mormon  battalion, 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


471 


who  had  arrived  from  Fort  Hall,  where  he  had  left 
his  detachment  of  the  battalion,  to  come  to  California 
to  report  to  me  in  person.  He  brought  a  muster-roll 
of  his  detachment,  with  a  power  of  attorney  from  all 
its  members  to  draw  their  pay ;  and  as  the  battalion 
itself  had  been  discharged  on  the  16th  of  July,  Pay 
master  Rich  paid  to  Captain  Brown  the  money  due  the 
detachment  up  to  that  date,  according  to  the  rank 
they  bore  upon  the  muster-rolls  upon  which  the  batta 
lion  had  been  mustered  out  of  service.  Captain 
Brown  started  immediately  for  Fort  Hall,  at  which 
place  and  in  the  valley  of  Bear  River  he  said  the 
whole  Mormon  emigration  intended  to  pass  the  winter. 
He  reported  that  he  had  met  Captain  Hunt,  late  of 
the  Mormon  battalion,  who  was  on  his  way  to  meet 
the  emigrants  and  bring  into  the  country  this  winter, 
if  possible,  a  battalion  according  to  the  terms  offered 
in  my  letter  to  him  of  the  16th  of  August,  a  copy  of 
which  you  will  find  among  the  military  correspondence 
of  the  department. 

In  my  letter  I  offered  Captain  Hunt  the  command 
of  the  battalion  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel, 
with  an  adjutant;  but  I  find,  by  the  orders  lately 
received,  that  a  battalion  of  four  companies  is  only 
entitled  to  a  major  arid  acting  adjutant.  I  will  notify 
Captain  Hunt  of  this  change  at  as  early  a  moment  as 
I  can  communicate  with  him.  I  am  pleased  to  find 
by  the  despatches  that  in  this  matter  I  have  antici 
pated  the  wish  of  the,  department. 

Last  season  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  provisions 
on  the  coast  of  California ;  but  when  the  stores  are 
received  that  are  now  on  their  way,  there  will  be 
an  ample  supply  for  the  coming  winter.  The  crops  in 
this  country  have  been  very  fine  .this  season,  and  at 


472  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

present  wheat  is  plenty  and  cheap  at  San  Francisco. 
Beef  is  also  plenty.  Beans  can  be  purchased  at  the 
southern  ports,  and  sugar  imported  from  the  Sand 
wich  Islands  ;  but  for  all  other  subsistence  stores  we 
are  dependent  upon  the  South  American  ports  or 
those  of  the  United  States.  I  have  directed  Captain 
Marcy,  acting  commissary  of  subsistence  at  this  post, 
to  supply  the  chief  of  his  department  with  the  market 
price  of  all  kinds  of  provisions,  with  such  other  facts 
as  may  enable  his  department  to  act  with  the  proper 
economy.  The  want  of  good  clothing  for  the  regulars 
and  volunteers  is  already  felt  in  California ;  and  unless 
a  supply  has  already  been  despatched,  many  of  the 
garrisons  will  be  without  shoes  and  proper  clothing 
this  winter.  The  price  of  such  articles  here  is  so 
exorbitant  as  to  place  them  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
soldiers.  The  volunteer  clothing  brought  by  Sutler 
Haight  has  already  been  disposed  of  to  citizens  and 
soldiers,  and  there  are  no  means  of  his  renewing  the 
supply  except  by  sending  to  the  United  States.  Justice 
to  the  soldier  demands  that  he  either  be  comfortably 
clad  by  the  government,  or  that  it  should  be  within 
his  power  to  clothe  himself  on  the  allowance  provided 
for  that  purpose  by  law. 

I  respectfully  recommend,  if  it  has  not  already  been 
done,  that  a  large  supply  of  infantry  undress  winter 
clothing  be  sent  immediately  to  this  country,  to  be 
distributed,  so  as  to  enable  each  volunteer  to  purchase 
for  his  own  immediate  use  at  cost  prices.  No  summer 
clothing  is  needed,  as  the  climate  is  too  severe,  sum 
mer  and  winter.  Such  articles  as  good  blankets,  cloth 
overcoats,  caps,  jackets,  overalls,  stockings,  and  shoes, 
with  stout  shirts  and  drawers,  are  the  only  ones  that 
will  ever  be  needed  here. 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


473 


General  orders  No.  10,  of  1847,  promotes  Lieute 
nant  Loeser,  third  artillery,  and  orders  him  to  join 
his  company.  I  regret  that  at  this  moment  his  services 
cannot  be  spared,  and  I  am  compelled  to  retain  him 
on  duty  with  company  F,  third  artillery,  because  the 
absence  of  Captain  Tompkins,  the  death  of  Lieutenant 
Minor,  and  Lieutenant  Sherman  being  detached  as 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general,  has  reduced  the 
number  of  officers  of  that  company  to  but  two — 
Lieutenants  Ord  and  Loeser.  I  trust  that  the  two 
companies  of  regulars  in  this  country  will  be  kept  with 
a  full  supply  of  officers,  that  an  officer,  upon  being 
promoted,  may  be  enabled  to  join  the  army  in  the 
field,  and  participate  in  the  active  operations  to  which 
he  looks  for  distinction  and  experience. 

Captain  H.  M.  Naglee,  seventh  New  York  volun 
teers,  with  a  strong  detachment  of  his  company,  is 
now  absent  in  pursuit  of  Indians  in  the  valley  of  the 
San  Joaquin.  He  has  with  him  Lieutenant  Burton's 
company  of  California  volunteers,  which  is  expected 
to  return  to  Monterey  before  the  end  of  this  month ; 
in  which  case  I  shall  cause  it  to  be  mustered  out  of 
service,  and  discharged  on  the  31st  day  of  October. 

Again  I  have  to  report  the  death,  by  sickness,  of 
an  officer  of  my  command — Lieutenant  C.  C.  Ander 
son,  seventh  New  York  volunteers,  who  contracted  a 
fever  when  on  duty  at  Fort  Sacramento,  and  died  in 
consequence  at  San  Francisco  on  the  13th  of  Septem 
ber.  He  was  buried  with  military  honors  by  the  troops 
at  San  Francisco,  under  direction  of  Major  Hardie. 
This  death  reduces  the  number  of  officers  in  Captain 
Brackett's  company,  seventh  regiment  New  York 
volunteers,  to  one  captain  and  one  second  lieutenant. 

Commodore  Shubrick  will  sail  for  the  west  coast  of 
40* 


474 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


Mexico  from  this  harbor  next  week  ;  and  having  made 
application  to  me,  I  have  directed  Lieutenant  Halleck, 
of  the  engineer  corps,  to  accompany  him,  and  shall 
give  Lieutenant  Colonel  Burton,  in  command  at  La 
Paz,  Lower  California,  authority  to  accompany  Com 
modore  Shubrick,  should  the  latter  design  an  attack 
upon  any  point  or  points  of  the  west  coast  of  Mexico, 
with  orders,  of  course,  to  resume  his  position  at  La 
Paz  as  soon  as  the  object  is  accomplished  for  which 
his  command  is  desired. 

NOTE. — Colonel  Burton  will  be  directed  to  leave  a 
sufficient  number  of  men  at  La  Paz  to  keep  the  flag 
flying. 

It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  assure  the  depart 
ment  that  the  most  perfect  harmony  subsists  between 
the  members  of  the  naval  and  land  forces  on  this  coast, 
and  that  the  most  friendly  intercourse  is  kept  up 
between  the  officers.  I  have  had  frequent  occasion 
myself  to  ask  assistance  of  Commodores  Biddle  and 
Shubrick,  and  my  requests  have  been  granted  with 
promptness  and  politeness ;  and  in  return  I  have 
afforded  them  all  the  assistance  in  my  power.  Our 
consultations  have  been  frequent  and  perfectly  harmo 
nious,  resulting,  I  hope,  in  the  advancement  of  the 
common  cause  of  our  country. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

R.  B.  MASON, 
Oolonel  1st  Dragoons,  Commanding. 

To  General  R.  JONES, 

Adjutant- General,  Washington,  D.  0. 


HISTORY    OF   CALIFORNIA.  475 

APPENDIX  J. 

We  have  already  given  the  substance  of  Governor 
Mason's  despatch  to  the  government,  giving  an  ac 
count  of  the  gold  discovery  and  a  visit  to  the  placers. 
There  is,  therefore,  no  necessity  for  inserting  that 
official  document.  The  appearance  in  Upper  Cali 
fornia,  in  July  1848,  of  Don  Pio  Pico,  the  former  gov 
ernor  of  the  territory,  gave  rise  to  serious  apprehen 
sions  of  another  insurrection.  The  despatch  of  Col. 
Stephenson,  the  commander  of  the  garrison  at  Los 
Angeles,  to  Colonel  Mason,  contains  an  account  of  the 
matter,  together  with  a  description  of  the  ex-governor. 

HEADQUARTERS  SOUTHERN  MILITARY  DISTRICT, 

Los  Angeles,  California,  July  20,  1848. 

SIR  :  By  the  last  mail  I  informed  you  of  the  ar 
rival  of  Don  Pio  Pico  in  this  district.  I  subsequently 
learned  that  he  had  passed  through  San  Diego  with 
out  presenting  himself  to  Captain  Shannon,  or  in  any 
manner  reporting  his  arrival.  Immediately  after  his 
arrival,  rumors  reached  me  of  conversations  had  by 
him  with  his  countrymen,  in  which  he  stated  that  he 
had  returned  with  full  powers  to  resume  his  guberna 
torial  functions,  and  that  he  had  only  to  exhibit  his  cre 
dentials  to  you  to  have  the  civil  government  turned 
over  to  him.  I  found  the  people  becoming  very  much 
excited,  and  some  rather  disposed  to  be  imprudent.  I 
sent  for  Jose  Ant.  Carrillo  and  some  others  in  the 
town,  who  were  giving  currency  to  these  reports,  and 
informed  them  that  I  should  hold  them  responsible 
for  any  imprudent  or  indiscreet  act  of  their  country 
men,  and  that,  at  the  first  appearance  of  any  dis 
respect  to  the  American  authorities,  I  should  arrest 
and  confine  them  in  the  guard-house.  This  had  the 


476  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

effect  to  check  all  excitement  here ;  but  as  Don  Pio 
removed  up  the  country,  the  same  excitement  began 
to  spread  among  the  rancheros.  In  the  mean  time, 
his  brother  Andreas  informed  me  that  he,  Don  Pio, 
would  come  in  and  report  to  me  in  person  in  a  few 
days,  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  from  the  fatigue 
of  his  journey.  On  Saturday,  the  15th  instant,  he 
reached  the  ranch  of  an  Englishman  named  Work 
man,  some  eighteen  miles  from  here.  This  man  has 
ever  been  hostile  to  the  American  cause  and  interest, 
and  is  just  the  man  to  advise  Pico  not  to  come  in  and 
report  to  me. 

On  Sunday  and  Monday  I  was  advised  that  many 
Californians  had  visited  Pico  at  Workman's,  and  that 
the  same  story  had  been  told  them  of  his  having  re 
turned  to  resume  his  gubernatorial  functions,  &c.,  and 
also  that  he  should  not  report  to  me,  but  go  direct  to 
San  Fernando,  from  whence  he  would  communicate 
with  you.  The  moment  I  became  satisfied  that  he 
intended  to  adopt  this  course,  I  issued  an  order  (copy 
inclosed)  requiring  him  to  report  to  me  immediately 
in  person.  I  sent  my  adjutant  with  a  detachment  of 
men  to  the  ranch  of  Workman  to  deliver  to  Don  Pio 
in  person  a  copy  of  this  order,  with  instructions  to 
bring  him  in  by  force,  in  case  he  refused  or  even 
hesitated  to  obey.  The  adjutant  returned  here  at 
twelve  o'clock  on  Monday  with  information  that  the 
Don  had  left  for  San  Fernando.  I  immediately  de 
spatched  Lieutenant  Davidson  with  a  detachment  of 
dragoons  and  a  copy  of  the  order,  with  instructions 
similar  to  those  given  Adjutant  Bonny  castle.  About 
five  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning  I  received  a  visit 
from  a  gentleman  named  Reed,  living  at  the  mission 
of  San  Gabriel,  who  informed  me  that  Don  Pio  Pica 


HISTOKY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 


477 


had  arrived  at  his  house  quite  late  in  the  evening  of 
Monday,  on  his  way  to  San  Fernando.  Reed  inquired 
if  he  did  not  intend  reporting  to  me  in  person ;  he 
answered  in  the  negative ;  when  Reed  assured  him, 
if  he  attempted  to  pass  my  post  without  reporting,  I 
would  cause  him  to  be  arrested,  and  that  he  was 
aware  of  my  being  displeased  at  his  passing  through 
San  Diego  without  reporting  to  the  commandant  of 
that  post.  Don  Pio  Pico,  upon  receiving  this  infor 
mation,  became  alarmed,  and  requested  Reed  to  come 
in  and  see  me,  to  say  he  intended  no  disrespect,  and 
would  come  and  report  at  any  hour  I  would  name. 
Reed  is  a  highly  respectable  man,  and  has  ever  been 
friendly  to  the  American  cause ;  and  I  gave  him  a 
copy  of  the  order  I  had  issued  in  regard  to  Don  Pio, 
requesting  him  to  deliver  it,  and  say  to  Don  Pio,  he 
could  come  in  at  any  hour  he  chose,  within  twenty- 
four  hours.  Accordingly  about  eight  P.  M.,  the  same 
evening,  the  ex-governor  came  in.  He  was  unaccom 
panied  even  by  a  servant,  evidently  desiring  it  should 
not  be  known  he  was  in  town.  I  received  him  kicdly, 
told  him  I  had  no  desire  to  treat  him  harshly,  but  that 
the  American  authorities  must  be  respected,  and  if  he 
had  not  come  in  I  should  certainly  have  arrested  him. 
He  informed  me  that  he  left  Guaynas  on  the  22d  of 
May,  crossed  to  Mulige,  which  he  left  for  California 
on  June  third,  and  arrived  at  San  Diego,  July  sixth. 
He  says  that  when  he  left  Guaynas  nothing  had  been 
heard  of  the  action  of  the  Mexican  Congress  upon 
the  treaty,  but  it  was  generally  supposed  it  would  be 
ratified.  He  says  the  Mexican  government  did  not 
answer  any  of  his  communications ;  and  the  moment 
he  saw  the  armistice  published  in  a  newspaper,  he 
determined  to  return  home,  as  he  supposed  he  could 


478  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

return  with  credit,  under  the  stipulations  of  the 
armistice.  He  brings  with  him  no  other  authority 
for  his  return,  and  says  he  desires  to  live  peaceably, 
and  attend  to  his  private  affairs.  He  denies  ever 
having  said  that  he  came  back  with  powers  to  resume 
his  gubernatorial  functions,  and  that  he  rebuked  such 
of  his  friends  as  he  had  seen  for  their  last  attempt  at 
a  revolution,  and  advises  that  they  remain  quiet  and 
obey  the  laws,  as  no  part  of  the  people  of  the  con 
quered  Mexican  territory  have  been  treated  as  kindly 
as  the  Californians  have  been  by  the  American  au 
thorities.  He  thanked  me  for  my  personal  kindness 
to  his  family  and  countrymen  in  general,  and  said  if 
I  would  permit  him  he  would  go  to  San  Fernando, 
from  whence  he  would  answer  that  part  of  my  order 
which  required  a  written  communication  from  him.  I 
gave  him  permission  to  leave,  and  offered  him  an 
escort,  which  he  thanked  me  for,  but  declined.  Don 
Pio  Pico  is  about  five  feet  seven  inches  high,  corpu 
lent,  very  dark,  with  strongly-marked  African  fea 
tures  ;  he  is,  no  doubt,  an  amiable,  kind  hearted  man, 
who  has  ever  been  the  tool  of  knaves ;  he  does  not 
appear  to  possess  more  intelligence  than  the  rancheros 
generally  do;  he  can  sign  his  name,  but  I  am  in 
formed  he  cannot  write  a  connected  letter ;  hence,  as 
he  informed  me,  he  would  be  compelled  to  send  for 
his  former  secretary  before  he  could  answer  my  order 
or  communicate  with  you,  which  he  advised  me  he 
intended  doing.  I  have  promised  to  take  charge  of 
and  forward  any  communication  he  may  choose  to 
make  you.  He  left  town  on  Wednesday  morning  very 
early,  as  obscurely  as  he  had  entered  it ;  and  those 
who  advised  him  to  assume  the  bombastic  tone  he  did 
upon  his  first  arrival,  have  done  him  irreparable  injury, 


HISTOKY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  479 

for  he  is  now  ridiculed  by  many  who  before  enter 
tained  a  high  respect  for  him. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obe 
dient  servant, 

J.  D.  STEVENSON, 

Colonel  \st  New  York  Regiment,  commanding 
S.  M.  District. 

Colonel  R.  B.  MASON, 

1st  U.  Dragoons,  Governor  of  California. 

P.  S. — Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  received  the 
inclosed  note  from  Don  Pio  Pico,  inclosing  a  commu 
nication  to  your  excellency.  In  the  note  of  Don  Pio 
to  me,  you  will  perceive  that  he  is  no  sooner  arrived 
at  San  Fernando  than  he  claims  to  have  returned  to 
California  as  its  Mexican  governor,  to  carry  out  the 
provisions  of  the  armistice.  I  shall  not  answer  his 
note  until  I  have  heard  from  you ;  but  I  shall  keep 
an  eye  on  him,  and  if  I  find  he  is  preaching  sedition, 
I  will  bring  him  in  here  at  short  notice. 

J.  D.  STEVENSON, 

Colonel,  commanding, 
W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
First  Lieutenant  Sd  Artillery,  A.  A.  A.  General* 


APPENDIX  K. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1849,  Colonel  Mason  at  his 
own  request,  was  relieved  from  the  post  of  Governor 
of  California,  and  Brigadier-General  Riley  took  his 
place.  The  despatch  of  that  officer,  dated  30th  of 
June,  following  his  assuming  the  duties  of  his  post, 
is  important,  as  containing  an  account  of  the  state  of 
feeling  in  California,  upon  the  subject  of  the  laws  at 


480  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

that  time  in  force,  and  the  difficulties  with  various  as 
semblies  elected  in  the  northern  part  of  the  terri 
tories. 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT  OF  CALIFORNIA, 
Monterey,  June  30,  1849. 

GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith 
copies  of  all  civil  correspondence  and  papers  since 
the  13th  of  April  last,  at  which  time  I  relieved  Colo 
nel  Mason  from  his  duties  as  Governor  of  California. 

It  was  (with  the  advice  of  Colonel  Mason)  my  in 
tention,  on  assuming  the  direction  of  civil  affairs  in 
this  country,  to  complete  the  organization  of  the  exist 
ing  government ;  at  the  same  time  to  call  a  convention 
for  forming  a  State  Constitution,  or  plan  of  territorial 
government,  to  be  submitted  to  Congress  for  its  appro 
val.  But  on  further  consultation  it  was  deemed  best 
to  postpone  all  action  on  this  subject,  until  I  could 
ascertain  what  had  been  done  in  Congress.  On  the 
first  instant  I  received  reliable  information  by  the 
steamer  "Edith"  that  that  body  had  adjourned  with 
out  organizing  any  territorial  government  for  this 
country ;  and  accordingly,  on  the  3d  instant  I  issued 
my  proclamation  to  the  people  of  California,  defining 
what  was  understood  to  be  the  legal  position  of  affairs 
here,  and  pointing  out  the  course  it  was  deemed  ad 
visable  to  pursue  in  order  to  procure  a  new  political 
organization  better  adapted  to  the  character  and 
present  condition  of  the  country.  The  course  indi 
cated  in  my  proclamation  will  be  adopted  by  the 
people,  almost  unanimously,  and  there  is  now  little  or 
no  doubt  that  the  convention  will  meet  on  the  first  of 
September  next  and  form  a  State  Constitution,  to  be 
submitted  to  Congress  in  the  early  part  of  the  coming 
session. 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  481 

A  few  prefer  a  territorial  organization,  but  I  think 
a  majority  will  be  in  favor  of  a  State  government,  so 
as  to  avoid  all  further  difficulties  respecting  the  ques 
tion  of  slavery.  This  question  will  probably  be  sub 
mitted,  together  with  the  Constitution,  to  a  direct  vote 
of  the  people,  in  order  that  the  wishes  of  the  people 
of  California  may  be  clearly  and  fully  expressed.  Of 
course,  the  Constitution  or  plan  of  territorial  govern 
ment  formed  by  this  convention  can  have  no  legal 
force  till  approved  by  Congress. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Mexico, 
doubt  was  entertained  by  a  portion  of  the  people  here 
respecting  what  constituted  the  legal  government  and 
laws  of  the  country.  A  few  contended  that  all 
government  and  all  laws  in  California  were  at  an  end, 
and  that  therefore  the  people,  in  their  sovereign 
capacity,  might  make  such  government  and  laws  as 
they  should  deem  proper.  Accordingly,  in  two  of  the 
northern  districts,  local  legislative  assemblies  were 
organized,  and  laws  enacted  for  the  government  of 
the  people  of  these  districts.  The  members  of  the 
Sonoma  assembly,  however,  soon  became  convinced 
of  their  error,  and  that  body  was  dissolved.  But  in 
San  Francisco  the  assembly  continued  its  sessions, 
making  laws,  creating  and  filling  offices,  imposing  and 
collecting  taxes,  without  the  authority  and  in  violation 
of  law,  and  finally  went  so  far  as  to  abolish  the  office 
of  alcalde,  whose  records  and  papers  were  seized  and 
forcibly  removed  from  his  custody.  On  receiving 
official  information  of  these  facts,  I  issued  my  procla 
mation  of  the  4th  instant.  Since  then  I  have  made 
a  personal  visit  to  San  Francisco,  and  find  that  the 
more  respectable  members  of  the  so-called  district 
assembly  are  convinced  of  the  impropriety  of  the 
41 


482  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

course  pursued  b j  that  body,  and  in  a  very  short  time 
I  think  all  the  difficulties  will  be  amicably  arranged. 
These  difficulties  arose  in  part  from  a  misapprehen 
sion  as  to  what  constituted  the  legal  government  of 
the  country,  and  in  part  from  the  unpopularity  of  the 
first  alcalde  of  that  district,  against  whom  serious 
charges  had  been  made.  Unfortunately,  there  was 
at  the  time  no  legal  tribunal  for  investigating  these 
charges ;  and,  there  being  no  other  magistrate  in  that 
district,  I  could  not,  with  propriety,  remove  him  from 
office.  A  new  election,  however,  will  soon  be  held  to 
supply  his  place;  and  on  the  organization  of  the 
"superior  court,"  the  charges  against  him  can  be 
properly  investigated. 

The  publication  of  a  portion  of  the  instructions 
received  from  Washington  respecting  the  government 
of  this  country,  and  the  disposition  manifested  by  the 
authorities  here  to  enforce  the  existing  laws,  have 
done  much  to  remove  the  erroneous  opinions  which 
were  for  a  time  entertained  by  a  portion  of  the  people 
of  California.  The  civil  government  of  this  country 
has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  administered  on  the 
principle  laid  down  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  viz:  on  the  transfer  of  the  ceded 
territory,  it  has  never  been  held  that  the  relations  of 
the  inhabitants  with  each  other  undergo  any  change. 
Their  relations  with  their  former  sovereign  are  dis 
solved,  and  new  relations  are  created  between  them 
and  the  government  which  has  acquired  their  territory. 
The  mere  act  which  transfers  their  country  transfers 
the  allegiance  of  those  who  remain  in  it ;  and  the  law 
which  may  be  denominated  political  is  necessarily 
changed,  although  that  which  regulates  the  intercourse 
and  general  conduct  of  individuals  remains  in  force 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA.  483 

until   altered  by  the   newly-created    power  of    the 
State. 

The  treaty  is  the  law  of  the  land,  and  admits  the 
inhabitants  of  [California]  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
privileges,  rights,  and  immunities  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  unnecessary  to  inquire  whether 
this  is  not  their  condition,  independent  of  stipulation. 
They  do  not,  however,  participate  in  political  power ; 
they  do  not  share  in  the  government  till  [California] 
shall  become  a  State.  In  the  mean  time,  [California] 
continues  to  be  a  territory  of  the  United  States, 
governed  by  virtue  of  that  clause  of  the  constitution 
which  empowers  Congress  to  make  all  needful  rules 
and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  and  other 
property  belonging  to  the  United  States. 

When  we  take  into  consideration  the  great  mass  of 
floating  population  of  the  United  States  and  of  other 
countries — people  of  all  nations,  kindreds  and  tongues 
— which  has  been  suddenly  thrown  into  this  country, 
it  must  be  acknowledged  that  every  thing  has,  thus 
far,  remained  remarkably  quiet,  and  that  the  amount 
of  crime  has  been  much  less  than  might,  under  the 
circumstances,  have  reasonably  been  expected.  It  is 
to  be  feared,  however,  that  during  the  coming  winter, 
when  large  numbers  of  the  miners  collect  in  the  towns, 
public  order  may  be  occasionally  disturbed.  But  it  is 
believed  that  in  the  mean  time  a  more  complete  organi 
zation  of  the  existing  government  will  be  effected,  so 
as  to  enable  the  authorities  to  enforce  the  laws  with 
greater  regularity  and  efficiency. 

Rumors  have  reached  me  that  there  is  no  very 
amicable  feeling  existing  between  the  Americans  and 
foreigners  in  the  gold  regions,  and  that  the  former 
are  disposed  to  forcibly  expel  the  latter  from  the  placer 


484  HISTORY  OF   CALIFOKNIA. 

districts.  I  shall  soon  visit  the  valleys  of  the  Sacra 
mento  and  San  Joaquin,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  report 
upon  the  true  state  of  affairs  there  by  the  August 
steamer.  As  Congress  has  declined  passing  any  laws 
restricting  the  working  of  the  placers,  I  shall  not 
deem  myself  authorized  to  interfere  in  this  matter,  any 
further  than  may  be  necessary  to  preserve  the  public 
tranquillity.  Indeed  there  is  much  reason  to  believe 
that  Congress  has  pursued  the  best  policy,  under  the 
circumstances,  in  leaving  the  placers  open  to  all;  for 
it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  enforce  any  regula 
tions  not  absolutely  required  by  the  necessity  of  the 
case,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  any  attempt 
at  this  time  to  rent  out  the  mineral  lands,  or  to  tax 
their  products,  would  involve  a  great  expense,  and  it 
is  quite  possible  that  such  an  attempt  would  lead  to 
very  serious  difficulties.  Of  the  large  numbers  who 
have  been  attracted  to  this  country  by  the  flattering 
prospect  of  sudden  wealth,  and  with  the  intention  of 
returning  to  their  former  homes  to  enjoy  their  gains, 
many  foreigners  as  well  as  Americans  are  becoming 
established  in  business,  and  will  make  California  their 
permanent  place  of  residence.  It  is  therefore  well 
worthy  of  serious  consideration  whether  the  present 
system  may  not  prove  equally  beneficial  with  that  of 
a  more  exclusive  policy.  It  certainly  conduces  much 
towards  developing  the  resources  of  the  country,  ex 
tending  its  commerce,  and  rapidly  augmenting  its 
wealth  and  population.  As  soon  as  I  have  made  a 
personal  examination  of  the  gold  regions,  I  shall  be 
prepared  to  .express  my  views  on  this  subject ;  but  I 
cannot  omit  the  present  occasion  to  urge  upon  the 
government  the  importance  of  establishing  a  mint  in 
California,  with  the  least  possible  delay. 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


485 


Information,  not  official,  has  been  received,  that  the 
revenue  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  extended 
over  this  country,  and  that  a  collector  and  deputies 
may  soon  be  expected  to  take  charge  of  the  collection 
of  revenue  in  -this  district.  On  their  arrival,  all  cus 
tom-houses  and  custom-house  property  will  be  turned 
over  to  them,  and  the  temporary  collectors  employed 
by  my  predecessor  and  by  myself  will  be  discharged. 
The  moneys  collected  during  and  since  the  war,  under 
the  direction  of  the  governor  of  California,  and  not 
required  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  civil  govern 
ment,  will  be  kept  as  a  separate  and  distinct  fund, 
subject  to  the  disposition  of  Congress.  The  grounds 
upon  which  this  revenue  has  been  collected  since  the 
declaration  of  peace,  are  fully  stated  in  a  letter  to  the 
collector  of  San  Francisco,  dated  the  24th  of  February 
last.  It  may  be  proper  to  add,  that  the  course  pur 
sued  by  my  predecessor  was  rendered  absolutely 
necessary  by  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case. 
The  wants  of  the  country  rendered  it  imperative  upon 
him  to  permit  the  landing  of  foreign  .goods  in  this 
territory  ;  and  had  this  been  done  without  the  collec 
tion  of  duties,  large  amounts  of  dutiable  goods  would 
have  been  placed  in  depot  on  this  coast,  to  the  mani 
fest  injury  of  the  revenue  and  prejudice  to  our  own 
merchants.  The  importers  have  sold  their  goods  at 
such  prices  as  to  cover  the  duties  paid,  and  still  leave 
them  enormous  profits ;  and  to  now  return  these 
duties  to  the  importers  would  be  a  virtual  gift,  without 
in  any  way  benefitting  the  people  of  California.  But, 
to  expend  this  money  in  objects  of  public  utility  in 
the  country,  would  confer  a  lasting  benefit  upon  all. 
I  would  therefore  recommend  that  such  portions  of 
these  moneys  as  may  be  left,  after  defraying  the 
41* 


33 


486  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

expenses  of  the  existing  civil  government,  be  given  to 
California  as  a  "  school  fund,"  to  be  exclusively  devo 
ted  to  purposes  of  education.  No  difficulty  has  been 
experienced  in  enforcing  the  tariff  of  1846,  and  the  re 
venue  has  been  collected  at  a  very  moderate  expense, 
considering  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  times. 

All  officers  of  the  civil  government  of  California 
will  be  paid  out  of  the  "civil  fund"  arising  from  the 
customs,  the  salaries  fixed  by  law,  and  I  would  recom 
mend  that  those  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  who 
have  been  employed  as  collectors  and  receivers  of 
customs  in  California,  both  during  and  since  the  war, 
be  allowed  a  fair  per  centage  on  the  money  which 
they  have  collected  and  disbursed.  Two  and  a  half 
per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected,  with  the  restriction 
contained  in  section  2  of  the  Act  of  March  3,  1849, 
is  deemed  a  fair  allowance  for  collecting  these  customs, 
and  two  and  a  half  per  cent,  on  the  amount  actually 
expended  is  deemed  ample  compensation  for  keeping 
and  accounting  for  the  same.  It  would  be  more  just 
and  proper  to  make  the  allowance  for  the  actual  ex 
penditures  than  for  receiving  and  keeping  these 
moneys ;  because,  if  the  reversed  rule  were  established, 
officers  who  have  received  large  sums,  and  within  a 
few  days  transferred  them  to  others,  with  no  other 
trouble  than  merely  passing  receipts,  would  be  entitled 
to  a  higher  pay  than  those  who  have  had  all  the 
trouble  of  expending  this  money  in  small  sums,  and  in 
keeping  and  rendering  accounts  of  these  expenditures. 

As  soon  as  these  "civil  funds"  can  be  collected 
from  the  officers  now  holding  them,  it  is  proposed  to 
place  them  in  the  hands  of  some  officer,  or  other 
responsible  person,  who  will  act  as  treasurer  for  the 
civil  government,  with  a  fixed  compensation  for  his 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


487 


services.  On  the  arrival  of  the  regular  collector  and 
deputies,  appointed  according  to  law,  a  full  statement 
will  be  made  of  all  the  moneys  which  have  been  col 
lected  in  California,  and  the  papers  and  accounts  con 
nected  with  the  expenditure  of  this  civil  fund  will  be 
sent  to  Washington,  as  heretofore,  in  order  that  all 
officers  who  shall  receive  or  expend  the  same  may  be 
held  to  a  strict  accountability. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  RILEY, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gf-en.  U.  S.  A.,  and  Governor  of  Cali 
fornia. 

Major-General  R.  JONES, 
Adjutant  G-eneral  of  the  Army,  Washington,!).  0. 


APPENDIX  L. 

Governor  Riley  took  occasion  to  make  an  excursion 
through  the  gold  regions,  soon  after  his  affairs  with 
the  assemblies  were  disposed  off.  A  reconnoisance 
of  the  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  was 
made,  and  particular  care  given  to  the  matter  of  es 
tablishing  military  posts  for  defending  the  miners  and 
others  from  the  attacks  of  the  Indians.  After  his  re 
turn  to  Monterey,  the  following  despatch  was  sent  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  United  States  army.  The  subject 
of  the  Indian  troubles  receives  especial  consideration. 

HEADQUARTERS  TENTH  MILITARY  DEPARTMENT, 

Monterey,  California,  August  30,  1849. 

COLONEL  :  I  found,  on  my  return  to  this  place  from 

a  reconnoissance  of  a  portion  of  the  valleys  of  San 

Joaquin  and  Sacramento  Rivers,  general  orders  No.  1 


488  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

from  the  headquarters  of  the  army ;  and,  as  I  cannot 
have  copied  in  season  for  transmission  by  the  steamer 
of  the  1st  proximo  the  military  correspondence  at 
these  headquarters,  I  respectfully  submit,  for  the  in 
formation  of  the  commander-in-chief,  a  brief  summary 
of  reports  heretofore  made  in  relation  to  military 
affairs  in  this  department. 

My  attention  was  directed,  on  my  arrival  in  this 
country,  to  the  unparalleled  excitement  in  relation  to 
the  mineral  regions  ;  the  imminent  danger  that  our 
troops,  as  they  arrived,  would  desert  to  the  "placers," 
and,  instead  of  giving  protection  to  the  parties,  and 
aid  in  the  preservation  of  order  and  tranquillity  ,«would 
themselves  become  the  very  worst  element  of  dis 
order  ;  the  great  extent  of  Indian  frontier  to  be 
guarded,  and  the  difficulties  then  apprehended  from 
the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in  the  mining  districts. 
An  attentive  consideration  of  these  subjects  impressed 
me  with  the  opinion  that  the  policy  most  likely  to 
prove  advantageous  to  the  service,  would  be  the  con 
centration  of  all,  the  troops  serving  in  this  department, 
except  the  necessary  guards  for  the  depots  at  one  or 
more  points  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  gold 
regions,  from  whence  a  portion  of  them  might  be  per 
mitted  to  visit  the  placers  for  the  purpose  of  working 
them  for  their  own  benefit — the  remainder  to  be  held 
embodied  in  a  proper  state  of  discipline,  in  readiness 
for  any  emergency  that  might  occur.  After  the  ex 
piration  of  the  furlough  of  the  first  class,  a  second 
class  to  be  furloughed,  and  so  in  succession  with  the 
remainder ;  the  troops  stationed  at  points  so  distant 
from  the  mines,  that  they  could  not  be  furloughed,  to 
*be  relieved  by  exchange  with  commands  that  have 
been  more  favorably  situated.  The  practice  of  grant- 


HISTORY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


489 


ing  furloughs,  adopted  at  some  of  the  posts  in  this 
country,  with  the  sanction  of  the  former  department 
commander,  had  succeeded  well,  and  the  infor-mation 
received  about  the  time  of  my  arrival  from  the  south 
ern  part  of  this  department  confirmed  me  in  the 
opinion  previously  entertained,  that  the  mania  for  gold- 
hunting  would  exist,  in  its  most  exaggerated  form,  at 
points  most  remote  from  the  placers.  I  accordingly, 
immediately  after  relieving  Colonel  Mason  in  the 
command  of  the  department,  recommended  the  adop 
tion  of  the  policy  above  indicated.  It  is  a  matter  of 
regret,  that  the  emergencies  of  the  service  have  been 
such  that  it  could  not  be  carried  out  to  the  extent  re 
commended  ;  for  the  experience  of  the  past  four 
months  has  convinced  me  that  it  is  the  only  course 
that  can  be  adopted,  with  reasonable  hope  of  success, 
until  the  state  of  affairs  in  this  country  is  materially 
changed.  In  addition  to  the  mere  question  of  expe 
diency,  Indian  difficulties  that  were  then  occurring, 
and  the  threatening  danger  of  a  proximate  collision 
between  the  different  classes  at  work  in  the  gold  re 
gion,  made  it  highly  important  that  a  -strong  military 
force  should  be  established  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  mining  region. 

For  the  disposition  of  the  troops  in  the  department, 
and  the  measures  taken  to  prevent  desertions,  &c.,  I 
respectfully  refer  to  department  order  and  special 
orders  forwarded  to  you  by  this  mail.  These  furnish 
you  with  a  history  of  the  operations  in  the  department 
since  my  assumption  of  the  command.  The  present 
disposition  of  the  troops  is  the  same  as  indicated  in 
orders  No.  16,  except  that  company  A,  2d  infantry, 
re-inforced  by  details  from  other  companies — in  all, 
four  officers  and  eighty  men — has  been  detached,  un- 


L 


490  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

der  instructions  from  the  commander  of  the  division, 
as  an  escort  for  Captain  Warner,  topographical  engi 
neers,  and  company  E,  1st  dragoons,  when  en  route 
for  the  station,  was  diverted  from  that  route,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  perpetrators  of  some  murders 
committed  by  Indians  on  or  near  Los  Reyes  River. 

The  difficulties  apprehended  from  a  collision  be 
tween  the  different  classes  of  the  mining  population 
have  not  yet  occurred  in  the  form  which  it  was  feared 
they  would  assume,  and  at  present  I  do  not  apprehend 
any  serious  difficulty  from  that  source.  Some  serious 
Indian  disturbances  have  occurred  on  the  American 
fork  of  the  Sacramento,  and  a  few  isolated  murders 
have  occurred  at  other  points ;  but  at  the  date  of  the 
last  report  from  the  frontier,  every  thing  was  quiet. 
The  Indians  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  although  in  a  great 
number,  are  of  a  degraded  class,  and  are  divided  into 
so  many  different  tribes,  or  rancherias,  speaking  differ 
ent  languages,  that  any  combination  on  their  part  is 
scarcely  to  be  apprehended.  Their  depredations 
heretofore  have  been  confined  generally  to  horse-steal 
ing,  and  only  occasionally  have  murders  been  com 
mitted  by  them.  These,  however,  have  been  made 
the  pretence,  by  the  whites  in  their  neighborhood,  for 
the  commission  of  outrages  of  the  most  aggravated 
character — in  one  or  two  cases  involving  in  an  indis 
criminate  massacre  the  wild  Indians  of  the  Sierra 
and  the  tame  Indians  of  the  ranchos.  The  command 
ers  of  detachments  serving  on  the  Indian  frontiers  are 
instructed  to  prevent  any  authorized  interference  with 
the  Indians  by  the  whites,  and  to  support  the  Indian 
agents  of  their  districts  in  the  exercise  of  their  appro 
priate  duties.  From  the  character  of  the  mining 
population,  and  the  nature  of  their  occupations,  unless 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  491 

a  strong  military  force  be  maintained  on  that  frontier, 
it  will  be  impossible  to  prevent  the  commission  of  out 
rages  upon  the  Indians ;  and  they,  in  turn,  will  be 
avenged  by  murders  committed  upon  isolated  parties 
of  whites.  Unfortunately,  the  eagerness  with  which 
gold  is  sought  after  by  detached  parties  of  miners, 
gives  many  opportunities  for  the  commission  of  such 
outrages.  To  seek  after  and  apprehend  the  perpe 
trators  in  cases  of  this  kind,  a  mounted  force  is  abso 
lutely  necessary ;  and,  although  great  difficulty  will 
be  experienced  in  obtaining  forage  and  replacing 
horses  that  may  be  disabled,  its  services  are  so  indis 
pensably  necessary,  that  I  greatly  regret  my  inability 
to  supply  more  than  one  company  on  the  Indian  fron 
tier  until  after  the  company  now  on  duty  with  the 
commissioner  of  the  boundary  survey  is  relieved. 

I  have  heretofore  called  the  attention  of  the  War 
Department  and  the  division  commander  to  the  in 
sufficiency  of  the  force  assigned  to  this  department 
by  general  order  No.  49  of  1848.  As  it  may  not  be 
possible,  with  the  present  military  establishment,  to 
order  any  additional  force  to  this  country  without  the 
action  of  Congress,  I  respectfully  invite  the  attention 
of  the  commanding  general  to  the  views  heretofore 
expressed  on  this  subject.  A  topographical  sketch 
of  a  portion  of  this  department  is  herewith  inclosed, 
upon  which  I  have  indicated  the  positions  or  neigh 
borhoods  in  which  I  deem  it  important  that  troops 
should  be  established.  The  amount  and  character  of 
the  force  required  in  my  report  to  division  headquar 
ters,  of  June  11,  is  also  inclosed. 

The  embarrassments  under  which  the  service  has 
labored  will  be  so  readily  appreciated  at  home,  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  refer  to  them  here  except  to  say 


492  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

that,  great  as  these  embarrassments  have  been,  they 
have  been  greatly  increased  by  the  want  of  line  and 
staff  officers. 

In  consequence  of  the  extraordinary  prices  of  labor, 
and  the  consequent  enormous  expenditures  in  this  coun 
try,  young  officers  of  the  line  should  not  be,  injustice  to 
the  service  and  themselves,  as  they  have  unnecessarily 
been,  encumbered,  in  addition  to  their  company  duties, 
with  money  and  property  responsibilities  to  a  very 
great  amount.  Experienced  officers  of  the  quarter 
master's  department  are  required  at  San  Francisco, 
San  Diego,  and  with  the  commands  on  the  upper  Sa 
cramento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers.  I  have  now  but 
one  officer,  Captain  Kane,  of  that  department,  under 
my  control ;  and  he  is  necessarily  detained  at  depart 
ment  headquarters  in  the  preparation  of  my  estimates 
for  the  services  of  the  ensuing  year.  Quarters  must 
soon  be  erected  at  several  of  the  posts  in  this  depart 
ment  ;  and  I  cannot  spare  line  officers  for  this  duty, 
without  destroying  their  efficiency  with  their  compa 
nies,  even  were  it  proper  to  do  so.  There  are  no  topo 
graphical  engineers  on  duty  in  this  department,  and, 
in  consequence  of  the  want,  I  have  been  able  to  per 
form  very  little  of  the  duty  devolved  upon  me  by  the 
lllth  paragraph  general  orders  No.  49,  of  1848.  A 
reconnoissance  of  a  portion  of  the  valleys  of  the  Sacra 
mento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers,  undertaken  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  the  position  to  be  occupied,  as 
recommended  in  my  report  to  division  headquarters 
of  April  16,  to  the  War  Department  of  the  25th  of 
the  same  month,  has  strengthened  my  opinion  of  the 
importance  of  giving  the  country  a  most  thorough 
examination  before  any  military  posts  are  permanently 
located  in  the  interior.  The  whole  district  of  country 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


493 


lying  between  the  coast  range  and  the  Sierra  Nevada 
is  exceedingly  sickly  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year. 
The  common  timber  of  the  country  (oak)  is  not  fit  for 
building  purposes  ;  and  I  was  greatly  disappointed  in 
finding  that  south  of  the  Sacramento  River,  pine  fit 
for  lumber  exists  only  on  the  spur  of  the  mountains 
in  small  quantities,  and  in  places  difficult  of  access. 
Stone,  as  a  building  material  is  scarce ;  and  at  several 
of  the  points  where  it  may  be  desirable  to  establish 
military  posts,  grain  for  forage  is  out  of  the  question, 
and  grass  can  only  be  found  in  exceedingly  limited 
quantities.  I  expressed  a  hope  in  my  despatches  to 
the  War  Department  of  June  30,  that  I  would  be  able 
to  make  an  examination  of  the  country  along  the 
western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  from  the  source 
of  the  San  Joaquin  to  the  southern  boundary  of  Cali 
fornia  ;  but  the  season  is  now  so  far  advanced  that  I 
fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  accomplish  more  than  the 
determination  of  a  position  to  be  occupied  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Los  Reyes  River.  It  is  of  great  im- 
importance  that  this  point  should  be  determined  as 
soon  as  possible ;  for  the  new  discoveries  of  gold 
constantly  being  made  in  that  direction,  are  at 
tracting  thither  a  large  portion  of  the  mining 
population.  The  rapidly  increasing  population  of  the 
northern  placers  is  gradually  forcing  the  Indians  to 
the  south,  and  congregating  them  on  the  waters  of  the 
Lake  Buena  Yista,  (Tula.)  This  position  should  be 
occupied,  if  possible,  before  the  miners  have  become 
established  in  Los  Reyes  and  the  neighboring  rivers ; 
and  the  necessary  examinations  and  arrangements  will 
be  made  as  soon  as  it  is  possible  to  do  so. 

Since  my  application  (April  25)  for  officers  of  the 
quartermaster's  department  was  made,  two  officers  of 
42 


494  HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

that  corps,  Majors  Allen  and  Fitzgerald,  whom  I.  had 
supposed  would  be  available  for  duty  in  this  depart 
ment,  have  been  permanently  separated  from  it ;  and 
the  number  then  applied  for  should  be  increased  by 
two. 

Two  of  the  medical  officers  in  this  department  are 
now  prostrated  by  disease ;  and  as  their  places  cannot 
be  supplied  here,  there  should  be  at  least  three  in  this 
department,  in  addition  to  those  actually  required  for 
duty  at  the  different  posts  in  the  department,  to  meet 
emergencies  of  this  kind. 

The  ordnance  depots  at  Monterey  and  San  Fran 
cisco  are  under  the  charge  of  military  store-keepers. 
It  is  important,  for  the  preservation  of  this  property 
in  a  serviceable  condition,  that  they  should  be  under 
the  supervision  of  an  experienced  ordnance  officer. 

With  the  exception  of  the  assistant  quartermaster 
above  referred  to,  the  officers  above  enumerated  have 
heretofore  been  applied  for  ;  but  as  none  have  been 
reported  to  me,  I  will  state  in  detail  what  officers  are 
absolutely  required  with  this  command : 

Four  officers  of  the  quartermaster's  department  in 
addition  to  Captain  Kane  now  on  duty  here : 

Two  topographical  engineers : 

Three  additional  medical  officers : 

One  officer  of  the  ordnance  department : 

One  officer  of  the  subsistence  department. 

The  irregular  communication  with  some  of  the  in 
terior  posts,  creates  a  good  deal  of  embarrassment  by 
delaying  the  department  returns.  In  consequence  of 
this  I  am  unable  to  furnish  a  later  return  than  for 
June.  The  transport  Mary  and  Adeline,  with  com 
panies  A  and  F,  2d  infantry,  reached  San  Francisco 
on  the  8th  ultimo.  The  detachment  of  dragoons,  on 


HISTOEY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  495 

their  march  to  the  department  with  the  collector  of 
this  district  and  the  Arkansas  emigrants,  have  not 
yet  arrived.  During  the  months  of  July  and  August, 
so  far  as  reports  have  been  received,  there  were  but 
few  desertions,  except  from  the  company  detailed  for 
the  escort  of  Captain  Warner,  topographical  engineers  ; 
thirty-four  men,  more  than  half  the  whole  number 
reported,  have  deserted  from  this  company.  The 
entire  force  in  the  department  at  this  time  does  not 
probably  exceed  six  hundred  and  fifty,  (aggregate ;) 
and  consequently  more  than  four  hundred  recruits  are 
now  required  to  fill  up  these  companies  to  the  standard 
authorized  for  this  department. 

A  detailed  report  of  my  reconnoissance  in  the  val 
leys  of  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  will  be  for 
warded  by  the  next  steamer.  I  have  delayed  it  in 
order  to  embody  in  it  information  in  regard  to  the 
country  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Tula,  which  I  am 
in  the  daily  expectation  of  receiving. 

The  want  of  company  officers  is  very  much  felt ;  and 
I  request  that  authority  may  be  given  me  to  break  up 
the  companies  whose  captains  are  permanently  absent, 
transferring  the  officers  to  other  companies,  as  their 
services  may  be  needed. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  colonel, 
your  obedient  servant, 

B.  EILEY, 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

Lieut.  Col.  W.  G.  FREEMAN, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  U.  jS.  Army, 
Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  York. 


HISTORY   OP  CALIFORNIA. 


APPENDIX  M. 

In  the  early  part  of  1848,  Lieut.  H.  W.  Halleck, 
of  the  Engineers,  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoi- 
sance  of  the  coast  of  Lower  California,  with  reference 
to  the  location  of  works  of  military  defence.  In  his 
report  to  Colonel  Mason,  after  giving  a  general  de 
scription  of  the  coast  and  harbors,  and  proposing  a 
system  of  military  defence,  he  submits  some  remarks 
upon  the  commercial  and  military  importance  of  the 
peninsula.  The  whole  report  is  interesting,  and  fur 
nishes  the  most  correct  information  upon  the  subject 
of  the  reconnoisance.  It  will  form  an  interesting 
conclusion  to  a  work  which  has  been  principally 
devoted  to  a  description  and  history  of  Upper  Cali 
fornia. 


LA  PAZ,  April  12,  1848. 

Sm :  In  compliance  with  the  instructions  of  the 
commanding  general  of  the  department  to  make  *a 
"  reconnoisance  of  the  coast  of  California,  with  refer 
ence  to  the  location  of  works  of  military  defence,"  I 
reported  in  my  last  upon  so  much  as  relates  to  the 
upper  province,  and  I  now  submit  a  few  remarks  on 
the  military  defence  of  the  peninsula  of  Lower  Cali 
fornia. 

I.  General  description  of  the  coast  and  harbors. — 
The  principal  ports  of  the  coast  of  Lower  California, 
visited  by  whaling  and  merchant  vessels,  are  San 
Quintin,  Magdalena,  San  Jose,  La  Paz,  Escondido,  near 
Loreto,)  and  Mulige. — There  are  some  other  points 
which  vessels  occasionally  touch  for  supplies  and  at 
trade,  but  they  are  comparatively  of  little  commercial 


HISTORY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


497 


or  military  importance.  The  port  of  San  Quintin, 
in  latitude  thirty  degrees  twenty-three  minutes,  is  re 
presented  as  affording  a  secure  anchorage  for  vessels 
of  every  description,  and  to  be  sufficiently  commo 
dious  for  the  .reception  of  a  numerous  fleet.  The  ex 
tensive  bay  of  Magdalena  has  acquired  considerable 
notoriety  from  its  being  resorted  to  every  winter  by 
large  numbers  of  whaling  vessels.  Its  size  gives  it 
the  character  of  an  inland  sea,  its  waters  being  navi 
gable  for  the  distance  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles. 
It  furnishes  several  places  of  safe  and  commodious 
anchorage.  The  bay  of  San  Jose,  near  Cape  Saint 
Lucas,  is  much  frequented  by  coasting  vessels,  and 
occasionally  visited  by  whalers  and  men-of-war.  Be 
ing  the  outlet  of  a  fertile  valley,  extending  some 
forty  or  fifty  miles  into  the  interior,  it  is  probably  the 
best  place  in  the  peninsula  for  supplying  shipping 
with  water  and  fresh  provisions.  It  is,  however,  a 
mere  roadstead,  affording  no  protection  whatever  dur 
ing  the  season  of  southeasters. 

La  Paz  is  the  seat  of  government  and  the  principal 
port  of  Lower  California,  and  its  extensive  bay 
affords  excellent  places  of  anchorage  for  vessels  of 
any  size,  and  is  sufficiently  commodious  for  the  most 
numerous  fleets.  The  principal  pearl  fisheries  are 
in  this  immediate  vicinity,  and  also  the  most  valuable 
mining  districts.  It  is  the  outlet  of  the  fertile 
valley  of  the  Todos  Santos,  and  of  the  produce  of 
the  whole  country  between  Santiago  and  Loreto. 
The  cove  or  estero,  opposite  the  town  of  La  Paz,  fur 
nishes  spacious  and  safe  anchorage,  which  may  be 
reached  by  vessels  drawing  not  more  than  eighteen 
or  twenty  feet  of  water  ;  and  the  cove  of  Pichilingue, 
at  the  south-eastern  extremity  of  the  bay,  and  about 

42* 


498 


HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


six  miles  from  the  town,  affords  an  excellent  anchor 
age  for  vessels  of  any  size ;  but  the  inner  bay  can  be 
reached  only  by  small  merchant  vessels.  The  bar, 
however,  between  the  two  is  only  a  few  yards  in  ex- 
'tent ;  and  if  the  importance  of  the  place  should  ever 
justify  it,  the  channel  might  be  made  deeper  without 
difficulty  or  great  expense.  The  adjacent  country 
being  barren  and  mountainous,  and  the  roads  to  the 
interior  exceedingly  difficult,  this  place  can  never  be 
the  outlet  of  much  agricultural  produce.  But  as  the 
island  of  Carmen,  nearly  opposite  the  entrance  to 
this  bay,  contains  an  almost  inexhaustible  supply  of 
salt,  very  easy  of  access,  it  is  possible  that  the  trade 
in  this  article  may  eventually  give  considerable  im 
portance  to  the  port  of  Escondido. 

The  bay  of  Mulige  contains  several  places  of  an 
chorage,  but  none  of  them  are  deemed  safe  for  large 
vessels,  or  even  from  small  vessels,  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year.  There  are  also  several  other  parts  in  the 
gulf  farther  north  which  are  occasionally  visited  by- 
coasting  vessels,  but  it  is  not  known  that  any  of  them 
are  likely  to  be  of  much  commercial  importance. 

II.  Proposed  system  of  defence. — It  is  not  sup 
posed  that,  under  existing  circumstances,  any  military 
post  will  be  necessary  on  the  western  coast  of  the 
peninsula ;  nor  is  it  probable  that,  for  many  years, 
any  place  there  will  become  of  sufficient  importance 
to  justify  the  construction  of  military  works  for  its 
defence.  It  is  true  that  the  whale  fishery  on  this 
coast  has  become-,  from  the  amount  of  shipping  en 
gaged  in  it,  an  object  of  the  highest  consideration ; 
but  our  having  ports  of  refuge  at  San  Francisco  or 
San  Diego,  and  at  La  Paz,  strong  enough  to  resist  a 
naval  coup  de  main,  will,  it  is  believed,  afford  sufficient 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  499 

security  to  these  whalers  in  case  of  a  war  with  a 
maritime  power. 

On  our  arrival  here  in  October  last,  it  was  deemed 
desirable  to  establish  a  small  military  post  at  San 
Jose,  for  the" double  purpose  of  giving  protection  to 
the  friendly  inhabitants  against  a  band  of  Mexican 
freebooters  who  had  crossed  the  gulf  from  Guaynas 
to  Mulige  and  Loreto,  and  of  preventing  the  further 
introduction  of  men  and  munitions  from  the  opposite 
coast.  The  old  mission  building  was  found  well 
adapted  to  the  purpose  in  view,  and  with  a  few 
repairs  and  improvements  served  as  an  admirable  pro 
tection  for  the  little  garrison  in  the  several  attacks 
which  it  afterwards  sustained  from  greatly  superior 
forces.  It  will  probably  be  necessary  to  continue 
this  post  during  the  war  with  Mexico,  or  at  least  so 
long  as  there  is  any  danger  of  the  enemy's  sending 
troops  from  the  opposite  coast  to  again  disturb  the 
tranquillity  of  the  peninsula ;  but  it  is  not  deemed  ad 
visable  to  establish  at  this  place  any  works  of  perma 
nent  defence,  the  character  of  the  port  not  being  such 
as  to  warrant  expenditures  for  this  purpose.  The 
defences  of  the  cuartel  or  mission  building  are  deemed 
sufficient  for  all  purposes  of  temporary  occupation. 

Should  the  war  with  Mexico  continue,  and  the 
naval  forces  be  again  withdrawn  from  the  gulf,  it  may 
be  necessary  to  establish  temporarily  a  small  military 
post  at  Mulige ;  but  no  permanent  garrison  will  be 
required  either  at  that  place  or  Escondido,  unless, 
perhaps,  hereafter  the  commercial  importance  of  the 
latter  port  should  justify  such  a  measure. 

La  Paz  is,  therefore,  the  only  port  in  Lower  Cali 
fornia  which  it  will  be  necessary,  for  the  present,  to 
occupy  with  a  permanent  military  force,  or  to  secure 


500 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 


by  means   of    fortifications.      For    temporary   pur 


poses, 


the   site    of    the   old   cuartel   is   well   suited 


for  the  construction  of  defensive  barracks,  inas 
much  as  it  commands  the  town,  and  may  readily  be 
secured  against  an  attack  from  the  side.  The 
buildings  at  present  occupied  as  barracks  are  not 
judiciously  located.  A  permanent  work  on  Punta 
Colorada  will  completely  close  the  entrance  to 
Pichilingue  cove,  and  its  heavy  guns  will  reach  the 
entrance  to  the  channel  of  La  Paz  ;  but  to  give  the 
requisite  security  to  the  latter,  a  small  battery  will  be 
necessary  on  Punta  Prieta.  The  topographical  fea 
tures  of  both  these  points  are  favorable  for  the  con 
struction  of  small  fortifications.  Stone  of  good 
quality  for  building  purposes  is  found  in  the  imme 
diate  vicinity,  and  good  lime  may  be  procured  at  the 
distance  of  only  a  few  miles.  Quarries  have  been 
opened  in  the  "  Calaveras,"  and  the  stone,  though 
soft  and  easily  worked,  is  found  to  be  in  this  climate 
of  a  very  durable  character.  La  Paz  is  not  difficult 
to  defend  against  a  naval  attack,  and  the  proposed 
fortifications  may  be  constructed  in  a  short  time  and 
without  a  very  large  expenditure  of  money.  The  com 
mercial  character  of  the  place,  its  military  import 
ance  as  connected  with  the  defence  of  the  peninsula, 
its  great  value  as  a  naval  depot  and  port  of  refuge 
for  our  commercial  and  military  marine  in  case  of  war 
with  any  naval  power,  will,  it  is  believed,  fully  justify 
the  expenditures  necessary  for  securing  this  port 
against  a  maritime  attack. 

III.  Commercial  and  military  importance  of  Lower 
California.  —  Thus  far  in  my  report  I  have  proceeded 
on  the  supposition  that  it  is  the  intention  of  our  gov 
ernment  to  retain  the  whole  of  California  in  any 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


501 


treaty  of  peace  with  Mexico ;  but  doubts  have  re 
cently  been  expressed  on  the  policy  of  retaining  this 
peninsula,  on  account  of  its  being  of  little  or  no  value 
to  the  United  States.  As  the  guerrilla  forces  which 
were  sent  over  from  Mexico  the  past  summer,  during 
the  absence  of  our  squadron  from  this  coast,  to  regain 
possession  of  Lower  California,  and  force  the  inhabit 
ants  to  their  allegiance  to  the  Mexican  government, 
have  been  defeated  and  completely  dispersed,  leaving 
our  own  troops  in  undisputed  possession  of  the  terri 
tory,  nothing  but  a  conviction  of  the  utter  worthlc-ss- 
ness  of  the  country  could  now  induce  our  government 
to  consent  to  its  abandonment.  On  this  subject  I 
beg  leave  to  add  a  few  remarks : 

The  peninsula  of  California  lies  between  twenty- 
two  degrees  fifty  minutes  and  thirty-two  degrees  thirty 
minutes  north  latitude,  being  about  seven  hundred 
miles  in  length,  and  varying  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
miles  in  breadth.  An  irregular  chain  or  broken  ridge  of 
mountains  extend  from  Cape  St.  Lucas -to  the  frontiers 
of  Upper  California,  with  spurs  running  off  on  eaqh 
side  to  the  gulf  and  ocean.  Between  these  spurs  are 
numerous  broad  plains  covered  with  stunted  trees, 
and  during  the  rainy  months  with  a  thin  but  nutri- 
cious  grass.  In  the  dry  season  this  grass  is  parched 
up  like  hay,  but  from  its  nutricious  character  it  affords 
abundant  food  for  the  herds  of  cattle  and  horses 
which  constitute  the  principal  wealth  of  rancheros. 
The  dryness  of  the  soil  prevent  the  growth  of  trees 
of  any  considerable  magnitude,  except  on  the  borders 
of  a  few  mountain  streams.  This  timber,  though  far 
from  being  plentiful,  is  exceedingly  durable  and  much 
esteemed  in  ship-building.  The  greatest  height  of  the 
mountains  is  estimated  five  thousand  feet ;  many  of 


34 


502  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

them  are  piles  of  mere  broken  rocks,  while  others  are 
covered  with  grass,  shrubbery,  and  small  trees.  The 
plains  are  sandy  and  mostly  unproductive — not,  how 
ever,  from  any  natural  barrenness  in  the  soil,  but 
from  a  deficiency  of  water.  There  are  but  few 
durable  streams  in  the  whole  country,  and  streams  of 
good  water  are  extremely  scarce.  But  in  the  plains 
and  most  of  the  dry  beds  of  rivers  water  can  be  obtained 
by  digging  wells  only  a  few  feet  in  depth;  and 
wherever  irrigation  has  been  resorted  to  by  means  of 
these  wells,  the  produce  of  the  soil,  from  its  remark 
able  fertility,  has  abundantly  rewarded  the  labor  of  the 
agriculturist.  Much  of  this  soil  is  of  volcanic  origin, 
having  been  washed  from  the  mountains  by  the  action 
of  heavy  rains,  and  the  produce  extracted  by  means 
of  irrigation  from  these  apparently  barren  and  un- 
prolific  sands  is  something  most  marvellous.  The 
general  aspect  of  the  country  on  the  coast  is  exceed 
ingly  barren  and  forbidding,  but  I  have  seen  no  in 
stance  where  the  soil  is  properly  cultivated  that  the 
labor  bestowed  on  it  is  not  well  rewarded.  The 
growth  of  vegetation  is  exceedingly  rapid,  and  the 
soil  and  climate  are  such  as  to  produce  nearly  all  the 
tropical  fruits  in  great  perfection.  But  the  inhabit 
ants  are  disinclined  to  agriculture,  and  most  of  them 
live  indolent  and  roving  lives,  subsisting  principally 
upon  their  herds.  Notwithstanding  the  unfavorable 
character  of  the  country,  it  is  capable,  in  the  hands 
of  an  industrious  and  agricultural  people,  of  support 
ing  a  population  much  more  numerous  than  the  pre 
sent.  In  the  time  of  the  missions,  when  very  small 
portions  of  the  soil  were  cultivated,  and  even  these 
but  rudely,  by  the  Indians,  the  four  districts  of  San 
Jose,  Santiago,  San  Antonio,  and  Todos  Santos  con- 


HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA.  503 

tained  a  population  of  thirty-five  thousand  souls, 
whereas,  the  present  population  of  the  same  districts 
is  only  seven  thousand. 

The  agricultural  products  of  Lower  California  are 
maize,  sugarcane,  potatoes,  dates,  figs,  grapes,  quin 
ces,  lemons,  and  olives,  A  considerable  quantity  of 
hides,  beef,  cheese,  soap,  sugar,  figs,  raisins,  &c.,  is 
annually  exported  to  Mexico  and  Upper  California, 
flour  and  merchandise  being  received  in  exchange. 
The  vegetable  market  of  Mazatlan  is  also  in  part 
supplied  from  the  valley  of  San  Jose*. 

But  the  value  of  Lower  California  does  not  result 
from  its  being  either  a  grazing  or  agricultural  country. 
Its  fisheries,  mines,  commerce,  and  the  influence  of 
its  geographical  position,  are  matters  of  much  higher 
importance  than  its  agricultural  productions. 

The  whole  coast  of  the  peninsula  abounds  with  fish ; 
clams  and  oysters  are  found  in  great  plenty  and  of 
every  variety.  The  islands  of  the  gulf  abound  with 
seal,  and  the  whaling  grounds  on  the  Pacific  coast  are 
of  great  value.  During  the  past  year  Magdalena 
bay  alone  has,  at  one  time,  contained  as  many  as 
twenty-eight  sail,  all  engaged  in  this  fishery.  The 
pearl  fishery  is  also  exceedingly  valuable.  Formerly, 
when  it  was  conducted  with  system  and  regularity, 
the  annual  produce  of  a  single  vessel  with  thirty  or 
forty  divers,  between  the  months  of  July  and  October, 
usually  amounted  to  about  $60,000 ;  and  now,  badly 
as  the  fishery  is  conducted,  the  annual  exportation  of 
pearls  amounts  to  between  forty  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  Tortoise  and  pearl  shells  are  also  articles  of 
exportation. 

Lower  California  contains  valuable  mines  of  gold, 
silver,  copper,  and  lead ;  but,  for  the  want  of  capital, 


504  HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

very  few  of  these  are  worked,  and  this  in  the  rudest 
manner  possible.  Nevertheless,  the  labor  expended 
on  them  is  well  rewarded ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  with  capital  and  suitable  means  they  would  yield 
very  handsome  profits.  The  salt  mines  on  Carmen 
island  are  capable  of  supplying  the  whole  coast  of 
Mexico  and  California;  already  the  duties  on  this 
article  amount  to  a  considerable  sum. 

The  commerce  of  the  peninsula  is  now  very  limited, 
being  principally  confined  to  a  coasting  trade  with 
the  ports  of  Mexico.  The  whole  population  of  the 
country  is  but  little  more  than  ten  thousand,  and  the 
annual  imports  and  exports  are  estimated  at  $300,000. 
But  in  our  hands  this  commerce,  freed  from  the  ab 
surd  restrictions  imposed  by  Mexico,  will  soon  receive 
a  very  great  extension.  La  Paz  will  become  the  prin 
cipal  depot  of  American  goods  for  the  western  coast 
of  Mexico ;  and  in  a  few  years  most  foreign  goods  in 
tended  for  this  coast  will  also  be  deposited  in  the 
warehouses  of  Lower  California,  to  be  transferred  to 
the  ports  of  Mexico  at  such  times  and  in  such  quanti 
ties  as  the  demands  of  the  market  may  require.  In 
the  present  variable  state  of  Mexican  trade,  resulting 
from  an  irregular  and  fluctuating  tariff,  which  differs 
for  each  port  and  changes  with  every  change  of 
general  or  state  administration,  it  is  frequently  neces 
sary  to  transfer  vessels  with  their  cargoes  from  one 
port  to  another,  or  to  keep  them  for  weeks  at  sea, 
standing  off  and  on,  so  as  to  enable  the  agents  to 
arrange  the  rate  of  duties  at  the  custom-house  before 
landing  the  cargoes.  Sometimes  the  consignees  are 
obliged  to  send  their  vessels  to  the  Sandwich  islands 
or  Valparaiso  until  a  change  of  administration  will 
enable  them  to  avoid  the  exorbitant  demands  of  some 


MOUNTAIN   SCENERY LOWER    CALIFORNIA. 


HISTORY   OF   CALIFORNIA.  505 

petty  governor  or  collector  of  customs.  Moreover, 
the  principal  commercial  ports  of  this  coast  (Mazatlan 
and  San  Bias)  are  inaccessible  to  merchant  vessels  for 
four  months  of  each  year,  and  during  that  time  are 
visited  only~  by  small  coasters.  But,  with  Lower 
California  in  our  possession,  merchant  vessels  of 
whatever  character,  at  all  seasons  and  in  all  winds, 
can  find  a  refuge  in  La  Paz,  and  their  cargoes 
despatched  in  such  quantities  and  to  such  points  of 
the  opposite  coast  as  circumstances  may  justify.  This 
place  in  a  few  years  will  be  what  Mazatlan  now  is, 
and  Mazatlan  experience  the  fate  of  San  Bias  and 
Acapulco. 

The  importance,  however,  of  this  port  results  mainly 
from  its  geographical  position,  and  the  influence  it 
is  likely  to  exert  as  a  military  and  naval  depot  upon 
our  commercial  interests  in  the  Pacific.  The  port  of 
San  Francisco,  in  Upper  California,  should  be  well 
fortified,  and  every  care  taken  to  make  it  a  harbor 
of  refuge  for  our  merchant  and  military  marine,  in 
case  of  a  maritime  war ;  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  that  place  is  nearly  fifteen  hundred  miles  from 
the  nearest  port  of  Mexico,  and  that  it  is  very  far 
north  of  some  of  the  best  whaling  grounds  in  the  Paci 
fic,  and  too  distant  to  afford  much  protection  to  our 
commerce  with  Central  America,  although  its  position 
gives  it  a  controlling  influence  over  the  commerce  of 
Sandwich  Islands,  Upper  California,  and  Oregon. 
In  the  same  way  a  well-fortified  naval  station  at  La 
Paz,  from  its  immediate  proximity  to  the  coast  of 
Mexico,  would  have  a  most  beneficial  influence  on  our 
commercial  and  whaling  interest  in  this  part  of  the 
Pacific.  The  great  value,  in  time  of  maritime  war, 
of  such  key  points  as  La  Paz,  and  the  commanding 
43 


506  HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA. 

influence  exercised  by  them  in  the  protection  of  com 
merce,  have  become  settled  principles  in  military 
defence ;  and  England  shows  her  appreciation  of  their 
truth,  and  the  wisdom  of  her  own  policy,  in  establish 
ing  stations  and  points  like  St.  Helena,  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  Gibraltar,  Malta,  Corfu,  and  Bermuda. 

Again,  the  growing  commerce  of  California  and 
Oregon,  and  the  political  importance  of  our  posses 
sions  on  the  Pacific,  render  it  necessary  that  we  should 
have  some  means  of  rapid  communication  between 
them  and  the  seat  of  government  at  Washington. 
This  communication  must  be  effected  by  the  isthmus 
of  Panama  or  of  Tehuantepec.  In  either  case  steam 
ers  bound  to  Upper  California  and  the  Columbia  River 
must  have  one  or  more  intermediate  depots  of  fuel; 
and  in  time  of  war  it  is  important  that  these  depots 
be  established  in  our  own  rather  than  in  a  hostile  ter 
ritory.  A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  La  Paz 
is  nearly  equidistant  from  the  extremities  of  this  line ; 
and  that  Tehuantepec,  La  Paz,  and  San  Francisco 
divide  into  four  equal  parts  the  whole  distance  from 
Panama  to  Oregon.  Moreover,  as  this  ocean  is  pecu 
liarly  suited  to  steam  navigation,  a  large  part  of  the 
commerce  of  the  Pacific  must  eventually  be  carried  on 
in  steam  vessels ;  and  in  all  probability  not  many 
years  will  elapse  before  a  portion  of  our  naval  force  in 
these  waters  is  of  the  same  character.  Under  this 
supposition,  the  importance  of  our  possessing  some 
naval  depot  and  harbor  of  refuge  and  repair  south  of 
Upper  California  is  too  manifest  to  require  argument 
or  illustration. 

But  whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  value  of  this 
peninsula  or  of  the  gulf  as  a  natural  boundary  between 
us  and  Mexico,  instead  of  an  imaginary  line  drawn 


HISTORY   OP   CALIFORNIA.  507 

from  the  Colorado  to  the  Pacific,  thus  separating  a 
kindred  people,  and  exposing  the  governments  of  the 
two  territories  to  continual  collisions,  the  propriety  of 
retaining  Lower  California  is,  in  my  opinion,  now  no 
longer  an  open  question.  When  this  country  was  first 
taken  possession  of  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States, 
the  people  were  promised  the  protection  of  our  govern 
ment  against  Mexico,  and  guarantied  the  rights  secured 
by  our  Constitution;  and  in  November,  1847,  they 
were  assured  by  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Paci 
fic  squadron,,  (with  the  approbation  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,)  that  this  territory  would  be  permanent 
ly  retained  by  the  American  government ;  and  again, 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  his  annual 
message  of  December,  1847,  that  it  "  should  never 
be  given  up  to  Mexico."  Acting  under  these  assur 
ances,  all  the  most  respectable  people  of  the  territory 
not  only  refused  to  take  part  with  the  Mexican  forces 
which  were  sent  to  attempt  the  recapture  of  that  country 
from  the  Americans,  but  many  of  them  actually  took 
up  arms  in  our  defence,  and  rendered  most  valuable 
services  in  ridding  the  peninsula  of  the  guerrilla  hordes 
sent  over  from  Mexico  for  the  purpose  of  effecting 
our  expulsion.  In  this  conflict,  some  who  thus  sided 
with  us  lost  their  lives,  many  their  property,  and  all 
have  exposed  themselves  to  the  vengeance  of  the 
Mexican  government.  But  these  losses  and  dangers 
they  have  willingly  encountered,  in  the  hope  of  ob 
taining  the  better  government  of  the  United  States. 
They  have  regarded  these  promises  as  made  in  good 
faith,  and  have  been  guided  in  their  conduct  by  the 
assurances  thus  held  out  to  them  by  the  agents  of  the 
American  government ;  and  now,  for  the  United 
States  to  voluntarily  surrender  this  country  to  the 


508  HISTORY  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

republic  of  Mexico,  and  leave  these  Californians  ex 
posed  to  the  loss  of  life  and  confiscation  of  property, 
for  having  sided  with  us,  under  the  assurances  thus 
held  out  to  them,  would  not  only  be  in  itself  a  breach 
of  national  faith,  but  would  make  us  appear  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world  guilty  of  the  most  deliberate  and 
cruel  deception. 

H.  WAGER  HALLECK. 

Lieutenant  of  Engineers. 
Colonel  R.  B.  MASON, 

Commanding  Tenth  Military  Department. 


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sketches  are  brief,  and  embody  all  the  historic  incidents  recorded  of  them.—  New 
York  Evangelist. 

A  younger  brother  of  J.  T.  Headley  is  the  author  of  this  beautiful  volume.  It  will 
probably  have  a  larger  circulation  than  the  splendid  work  issued  last  fall  by  the 
Messrs.  Appleton,  being  better  adapled  for  the  general  reader,  in  form  and  price, 
while  it  is  ornamental  enough  for  the  centre  table.  It  contains  nineteen  descriptive 
biographical  sketches,  arranged  in  chronological  order,  including  nearly  all  the 
distinguished  women  of  the  sacred  annals,  arid  forming  an  outline  of  Scripture 
history.  The  illustrations  are  from  original  designs,  and  are  numerous  and  appro 
priate.  No  ordinary  powers  of  imagination  and  expression  are  shown  in  the  vivi( 
and  picturesque  descriptions ;  and  the  fine  portraiiures  of  character  rivet  thi 
interest,  and  set  forth  the  Scripture  delineations  in  a  stronger  light.  In  this  respec. 
the  book  has  no  rival,  for  no  other  is  so  complete,  following  so  closely  at  the  same 
time,  the  sacred  narrative.  We  hope  it  is  but  an  earnest  of  other  works  from  the 
pen  of  its  gifted  author  —  Home  Journal. 

We  were  so  struck  with  the  title  of  this  work,  and  the  prepossessing  appearance 
of  its  typography,  that  we  have  so  far  departed  from  the  usual  course  adopted  in 
like  cases,  as  to  read  carefully  the  work  in  hand,  before  recommending  it  to  our 
readers.  And  we  are  prepared  to  say,  that  a  more  attractive  volume  has  not  fallen 
in  our  way  for  a  long  time.  It  is  made  up  of  brief  historical  and  descriptive  eulogiea 
of  the  most  remarkable  females  of  a  most  extraordinary  era  in  the  world's  history. 
The  author  has  appropriated  very  much  of  the  poetry  and  romance  of  the  Bible,  in 
the  sketches  he  has  given  of  nineteen  women,  who  have  come  down  to  us  through 
their  peculiar  merits,  embalmed  in  sacred  inspiration.  Whoever  reads  the  story  of 
Sarah,  the  beautiful  Hebrew  maiden,  the  admiration  of  the  Chaldean  shepherds  and 
the  pride  of  her  kindred  ;  or  of  Rebecca,  whom  the  "  faithful  steward  of  Abraham  " 
journeyed  to  the  land  of  Nahor  and  selected  as  the  bride  of  Isaac,  and  who,  it  is 
eaid,  "was  very  fair  to  look  upon ;"  or  of  Rachel,  the  beautiful  shepherdess  who 
tended  her  father's  flocks  in  the  valley  of  Haran  ;  or  of  Merriam,  Deborah,  Jeptha'a 
Daughter,  Delilah,  Ruth,  Queen  of  Sheba,  the  Shunamite,  Esther,  Elizabeth,  Virgin 
Mary,  Dorcas,  and  others  —  will  read  a  story  far  more  interesting  and  attractive  than 
any  romance  or  novel.  Every  young  lady  in  town  should  read  this  work  ;  and  we 
will  venture  to  say  that  they  will  do  so  if  they  but  once  get  hold  of  it,  for  it  is  a  book 
that  cannot  be  laid  aside. —  Oswego  Times. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY   PUBLISHED    BY   DERBY   <b   MILLER. 


The  Young  Man's  Book :   or  Lectures  for  the  Times. 
By  WILLIAM  W.  PATTON.     One  12mo.  vol. 

The  lectures  contained  in  this  volume  are  not  made  up  of  merely  common  place 
remarks.  They  are  elevated  in  sentiment,  chaste  in  style,  and  impressive  in  manner. 
No  person  who  reads  the  volume  can  fail  to  profit  by  ft,  or  to  admire  the  evangelical 
views  and  elegant  language  of  the  author.  The  work  deserves  to  be  a  favorite  with 
young  men.—  Northern  Christian  Advocate. 

It  is  a  genial,  earnest,  manly  book.  The  author  is  himself  a  remarkable  example 
of  independent  thinking  and  philanthropic  feeling.  The  bugle  note  which  he  sou  mis 
to  young  men  is  no  uncertain  sound.  He  goes  with  his  whole  soul  for  bettering  the 
world,  where  he  thinks  it  bad,  and  few  of  "the-  young  men  who  heard  his  lectures  or 
shall  read  his  book,  will  not  be  strongly  inclined  to  go  wilh  him.  We  co.rditt.lly  advise 
all  young  men  who  are  anxious  to  do  and  be  something  in  this  universe,  to  cultivate 
an  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Fatton  or  his  book.  —Boston  Cfironotype. 

There  are  seven  lectures  in  this  volume  devoted  to  subjects  rather  unusual  in  a 
work  of  this  kind,  and  having  the  impress  of  earnest  feeling  and  reflection.  That 
(some  of  the  points  are  overstated  does  not  detract  from  the  exceeding  value  and  im 
portance  of  most  of  the  views  presented— all  the  more  important  because  so  infre 
quently  attended  to  in  the  pulpit,  or  in  works  designed  for  the.  young.  The  book  is 
written  in  a  perspicuous  and  forcible  style,  and  both  from  its  matter  and  spirit  is 
likely  to  become  popular  and  useful. — New  'York  Evangelist. 

This  is  an  excellent  book— excellent  in  its  purpose,  in  its  execution,  and  in  its 
adaptation  to  the  present  day.  In  some  respects  ihia  book  differs  from  all  kindred 
works  that  we  have  seen.  As  a  writer  Mr.  Patton  is  lucid,  earnest,  and  direct,  never 
obscure  and  seldom  other  than  forcible.  Regarded  merely  aa  a  literary  performance 
we  must  pronounce  these  lectures  highly  creditable.  Their  timely  and  important 
moral  inculcations  should  commend  them  more  especially  to  the  friends  of  religion 
and  entitle  them  to  a  place  in  every  Christian  household. — Charier  Oak. 

These  are  able  and  earnest  lectures  to  young  men,  delivered  to  the  author's  con 
gregation  in  Hartford,  arid  contain  many  valuable  considerations  and  glowing  appeals 
to  rouse  the  youth  to  diligence,  courage,  and  faith  in  the  struggle  of  life. — New  York 
Observer. 

The  counsels,  warning?,  and  encouragements,  to  the  young,  contained  in  this  vol 
ume,  are,  as  designed,  adapted  to  the  times.  It  is  interesting  in  its  style  as  well  as 
matter,  and  cannot  fail  to  profit  that  class  to  whom  it  is  addressed.  —  The  (Boston) 
Puritan. 

The  author  of  these  lectures  is  himself  a  young  man.  He  has  addressed  those  of 
his  own  age,  not  with  the  stern  reproof  or  grave  counsel  of  a  father,  but  with  the  af 
fectionate  entreaty,  kind,  yet  faithful  warning  of  a  brother.  The  subjects  of  the  lec 
tures  are  judiciously  selected  and  cannot  fail  of  doing  good  to  those  who  are  soon  to 
bear  the  burdens  and  responsibilities  of  society.— Boston  Recorder. 

A  volume  of  lectures,  seven  in  number,  on  subjects  of  vast  importance,  and  writ 
ten  with  much  force.  The  book  will  profit  those  who  read  it. — Neio  York  Commer 
cial  Advertiser. 

The  lectures  were  delivered  on  Sabbath  evenings  to  densely  crowded  audiences, 
and  were  spoken  of  in  terms  of  high  praise  at  the  time.  At  the  request  of  many  who 
heard  them  they  are  now  published.  The  lectures  are  valuable,  containing  a  vast 
amount  of  good'advice  and  information  for  that  class  of  persons  for  whom  they  were 
originally  designed,  and  in  a  time  like  the  present,  when  pernicious  literature  ap 
pears  to  be  the  order  of  the  day,  they  are  still  more  acceptable. — (Hartford)  Chris 
tian  Secretary. 

We  can  positively  say  that  the  object  of  the  work  is  most  praiseworthy,  the  sub 
jects  treated  of  are  important,  the  counsels  it  contains  are  weighty,  and  are  enforced 
in  a  happy  style  with  a  spirit  well  calculated  to  gain  the  attention  of  those  who  are 
addressed.  —Hartford  (Ct.)  Courant. 

In  design  and  execution  it  is  worthy  to  go  side  by  side  with  the  late  popular  and 
widely  circulated  work  known  as  Reseller's  Lectures  to  Young  Men.  The  fifth  lec 
ture  is  well  suited  to  our  columns  and  we  hope  to  give  it  a  place  ere  long. — N.  Y. 
Advocate  and  Family  Guardian. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY    DERBY    <fe    MILLER. 

The  Missionary  Offering,  a  memorial  of  Christ's 
Messengers  in  Heathen  Lands,  dedicated  to  Dr.  Judson, 
8  engravings,  12mo.,  muslin. 

We  have  seen  no  book  of  late  which,  upon  a  hasty  examination,  we  could  more 
cheerfully  and  confidently  recommend.  The  history  of  the  labors  of  Missionaries 
in  foreign  lands  has  always  been  one  of  unsurpassed  interest  to  a  great  class  of  every 
community,  by  whom  such  enterprizes  are  conducted,  and  in  no  similar  work  have 
we  seen  this  history  more  ably  and  truthfully  set  forth  than  in  the  one  before  us.— 
Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser. 

Here  is  a  volume  of  about  four  hundred  pages,  neatly  printed  and  illustrated, 
made  up  of  the  most  interesting  matter,  from  the  pens  of  the  first  writers.  Such  a 
work  cannot  fail  to  interest.  What  a  glorious  band  have  cast  aside  the  heart-cling 
ing  ties  of  home,  country,  and  friends,  and  borne  the  peaceful  emblem  of  Chris 
tianity  to  the  darkest  climes.  Bloody  rites  have  ceased,  the  funeral  flame  is 
extinguished,  the  crushing  car  has  ceased  to  roll,  and  mental  and  moral  darkness 
has  given  away  before  the  silent  labors  of  the  missionary.  The  records  of  such  a 
history  cannot  but  interest,  revealing  as  they  do,  f?ome  of  the  sublimes*  features  in 
the  character  of  man  —  sacrifices  and  toils  and  triumphs,  before  which  the  brightest 
achievements  of  earth  dwindle  into  folly.—  Cayuga  Chief. 

THE  MISSIONARY  OFFERING  is  composed  of  poetical  and  prose  writings  of  rare 
excellence,  reminiscences  and  incidents  connected  with  foreign  and  home  missions, 
&c.  We  consider  it  a  valuable  and  interesting  book,  especially  to  the  Christian  and 
philanthropist,  and  all  who  look  upon  the  missionary  enterprise  as  an  institution, 
under  the  guidance  of  Providence,  for  the  moral  regeneration  of  the  world.— Genera 
Gazette. 


Rational  Psychology,  or  the  subjective  idea  and  the 
objective  law  of  all  intelligence:  by  Laurens  P.  Hickok, 
D.  D.,  Professor  of  Christian  Theology  in  the  Theological 
Seminary,  Auburn. 

The  few,  not  the  many,  will  find  pleasure  and  improvement  in  the  study  of  a 
treatise  like  this,  discussing  with  much  ability  and  research,  indicative  of  close  and 
patient  thought,  the  abstruse  science  of  mind,  and  reaching  principles  by  a  careful 
induction  of  Veil  arranged  and  considered  facts.  The  author  has  favorably  iiuro- 
duced  himself,  in  this  work,  to  the  thinking  portion  of  the  religious  public,  and  will 
calmly  await  the  verdict  of  the  learned  world  upon  this  elaborate  performance.  It 
is  a  handsomely  printed  octavo  of  700  pages.—  N.  Y-  Observer. 


BOOKS   RECENTLY   PUBLISHED   BY    DERBY   &   MILLER. 


Golden  Steps  to  Respectability,  Usefulness  and 
Happiness  ;  being  a  series  of  Lectures  to  the  youth  of 
both  sexes  on  Character,  Principles,  Associates,  Amuse 
ments,  Religion,  and  Marriage.  By  JOHN  MATHER  AUSTIN. 
Derby,  Miller  &  Co.,  Auburn,  1850.  243  pp. 

The  author  of  this  book  is  a  writer  of  superior  attraction,  and  has  here  selected  a 
subject  of  deep  interest.  Could  the  youth  of  the  country  be  induced  to  exchange  the 
Buntline,  Lippard,  and  Ingraham  literature  of  the  day,  for  such  reading  as  this,  the 
benefits  to  themselves  and  society  would  be  incalculable. — Lockport  Courier. 

We  honor  the  heart  of  the  writer  of  this  volume  as  well  as  his  head.  He  has  here 
addressed  an  earnest  and  manly  appeal  to  the  young,  every  page  of  which  proves  his 
sincerity  and  his  desire  for  their  welfare.  The  subjects  treated  of  in  the  different  lec 
tures  are  those  indicated  on  the  title  page.  Integrity  and  virtue,  usefulness,  truth 
and  honor,  are  the  "  Golden  Steps  "  by  which  the  young  may  ascend  to  respectability, 
usefulness,  and  happiness.  We  trust  the  seed  thus  sown  will  not  be  without  its  fruit, 
and  that  his  readers  will  imbibe  the  spirit  of  the  motto  he  has  chosen— 
"  Onward  !  onward !  toils  despising, 

Upward  !  upward !  turn  thine  eyes, 
Only  be  content  when  rising, 

Fix  thy  goal  amid  the  skies." 
—Albany  Slate  Register. 

The  work  of  Mr.  Austin,  written  in  a  pleasing  style,  and  nervous  and  pointed  in  its 
argumentation,  will  hold  a  prominent  position  among  the  fortunate  endeavors  by 
which  the  rising  generation  are  to  be  influenced.  The  volume  before  us  is  beautiful 
in  its  exterior,  and  this,  combined  with  the  aim  of  the  author,  in  which  he  has  admi 
rably  succeeded,  will  give  it  a  wide  range,  and  secure  for  it,  we  hope,  an  invaluable 
influence. — Buffalo  Christian  Advocate. 

A  plain,  familiar,  forcible  exposition  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  Youth, 
•which  can  hardly  be  read  without  exerting  a  salutary  and  lasting  influence.  Judging 
from  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Austin's  former  works,  we  predict  for  it  a  wide  circula 
tion.—  New  Yor/c  Tribune. 

If  the  precepts  eloquently  and  forcibly  urged  in  these  pages  could  be  brought  homo 
and  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  the  mass  of  youth  in  our  land,  they  would  confor 
lasting  and  incalculable  benefits  upon  the  rising  generation.  We  cordially  commend 
this  work  to  the  attention  of  the  young  and  all  who  have  charge  of  them. 

The  publishers  have  executed  their  work  admirable,  and  have  brought  out  an  ele 
gant  and  beautiful  book.  Their  work  will  compare  favorably  with  any  of  the  New 
York  houses.— Troy  Post. 


The  following  extract  has  reference  to  the  "  golden  steps' 
United  States,  Millard  Fillmore  :— (See  page  69.) 


of  the  President  of  the 


BOOKS    RECENTLY   PUBLISHED   BY   DERBY   &   MILLER, 

The  Lives  of  Mary  and  Martha,  mother  and 
wife  of  Washington :  by  Margaret  C.  Conkling, 
with  a  steel  portrait,  18mo,  scarlet  cloth. 

Miss  CONKLING,  who  is  a  daughter  ef  Judge  Conkling  of  Auburn,  is  favorably 
known  as  the  author  of  Harper's  translation  of  "Florian's  History  of  the  Moors 
oi  Spain."  She  also  wrote  "  Isabel,  or  the  Trials  of  the  Heart."  In  the  preparation 
of  the  pretty  little  volume  she  has  done  a  praiseworthy  deed,  and  we  hope  she  will 
receive  the  reward  she  merits.  She  has  taught  us  in  the  work 

"  how  divine  a  thing 
A  woman  may  be  made." 

The  mother  and  wife  of  Washington  were,  in  many  respects,  model  women,  and 
the  daughters  of  America  will  do  well  to  study  their  character  —  which  is  finely 
drawn  on  these  pages. —  Literary  Messenger. 

This  beautifully  printed  and  elegantly  bound  little  work,  reflecting  tha  highest 
credit  upon  the  skill  and  task  of  the  publishers,  contains  biographical  sketches  of 
Mary,  the  mother,  and  Martha,  'he  wife  of  the  Father  of  his  country.  It  is  a  most 
valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  the  American  people,  embracing  not  only  the 
great  public  events  of  the  century  during  which  the  subjects  lived,  but  those  pictures 
of  home  life,  and  that  exhibition  of  social  manners  and  customs,  which  constitute 
the  most  important  part  of  life,  but  which,  from  the  fact  of  their  apparent  triviality 
and  intangibility,  the  historian  generally  passes  over.  The  authoress  evidently 
sympathises  earnestly  with  her  subject,  and  feels  that  in  the  exhibition  of  those 
wumauly  virtues  which  characterized  the  heroines  of  her  narrative,  she  makes  the 
mosi  eloquent  plea  in  favor  of  the  dignity  of  her  sex.  It  is  dedicated  to  Mrs.  WM. 
II.  SEWARD,  aud  contains  a  finely  executed  engraving  of  the  wife  of  Washington. 
We  cordially  commend  it  to  the  public,  and  most  especially  our  lady  readers. — 
Syracuse  Journal. 

This  acceptable  and  well  written  volume  goes  forth  upon  a  happy  mission, 
"  To  teach  us  how  divine  a  thing 
A  woman  may  be  made," 

by  unfolding  those  charms  of  character  which  belong  to  the  mother  and  wife  of  the 
hero  of  the  Land  of  the  Free ;  and  in  the  companionship  of  which,  while  they  illus 
trated  the  watchful  tenderness  of  a  mother,  and  the  confiding  affections  of  a  wife, 
is  shown  tho.se  influences  which  made  up  the  moral  sentiments  of  a  man,  whose 
moral  grandeur  will  be  felt  in  all  that  is  future  in  government  or  divine  in 
philosophy  ;  and  one  whose  name  is  adored  by  all  nations,  as  Uio  leader  of  man  ia 
in  the  progress  of  government,  to  that  perfection  of  human  rights  where  all  enjoy 
liberty  and'  equality.  To  say  that  Miss  Conkling  has  fulfilled  the  task  she  says  a 
"too  partial  friendship  has  assigned  her"  faultlessly,  would  perhaps  be  too 
unmeasured  praise,  for  perfection  is  seldom  attained;  but  it  will  not  be  denied  but 
that  her  biographies  are  traced  in  the  chaste  elegances  that  belong  to  the  finished 
periu'ls  of  a  refined  style,  which  fascinates  the  reader  with  what  she  has  thus  contri 
buted  to  our  national  literature. 

The  design  of  the  volume  is,  to  picture  a  mother  fitting  tlio  "Father  of  his 
Country  "  in  a  light  full  of  the  inexhaustible  nobleness  of  woman's  nature,  and  yet 
as  possessing  that  subdued  and  quiet  simplicity,  where  Truth  becomes  the  Hope  on 
which  Faith  looks  at  the  future  with  a  smile.  The  mother  of  Washington  was 
tried  in  a  school  of  practice  where  frugal  habits  and  active  industry  were  combined 
wiih  the  proverbial  excellences  of  those  Virginia  matrons,  who  were"  worthy  mothers 
of  such  men  as  Washington,  Jefferson,  Marshall,  and  Henry.  Miss  C.  has  pictured 
with  fidelity  arid  elegance,  her  views  of  this  remarkable  woman  ;  not  Jess  beauti 
fully  has  she  sketched  the  character  of  Martha,  the  wife;  following  her  from  her 
brilliant  manners  as  the  Virginia  belle,  through  the  various  phases  of  her  life,  she 
gives  a  rapid  but  comprehensive  view  of  those  characteristics  which  make  up  the 
quiet  refinement  of  manners  native  to  her,  and  which  ever  gave  her  the  reputation 
of  an  accomplished  wife  and  lady.  And  with  peculiar  delicacy  Miss  Conkling  haa 
portrayed  the  thousand  virtues  with  which  she  embellished  a  home;  her  amiable 
disposition  and  wincing  manners  made  the  happiest  to  the  purest  and  best  of  all 
men  fame  has  chosen  lor  its  noblest  achievments. —  Syracuse  Star. 


164  Frost  (John)  HISTORY  of  the  STATE  of  CALIFORNIA,  from  the  Period  of  the 
Conquest  by  Spain  to  her  Occupation  by  the  United  States  of  America,  with 
numerous  illusts.,  8vo.,  hf.  morocco,  N.  Y.,  1859  £1  10s 


